Not a PS Staffer 9.3
26 October 2013 at 11:06 am
Mark Mitchell, MP for North Shore, is a former NZ Policeman who..
“launched an international business career which included the start-up of my own company specialising in hostage rescue, supply chain security and risk management. Working closely with the World Economic Forum, I helped to establish Logistic Emergency Response Teams…. ”
see http://www.markmitchell.co.nz/mark-mitchell-profile.html
Mitchell’s father-in-law Frank Gill was a National Party North Shore MP as well as being a minister and ambasador to Washington.
Mitchell is a well integrated into the National Party real power structures. Mitchell is also well integrated into the Special Services network, the Police and the Intelligence Services.
Mark Mitchell knew about the Len Brown affair because there was a professional project to displace Len that went beyond the Palino/Slater/Wewege amateurs.
Mark Mitchell’s father in law was a leery leech! Followed me around the Debating Chamber gallery many years ago. I was not impressed. Insisted on being called Air Commodore Gill. Struck me as lacking in any intellectual skills. Sounds like Mark Mitchell would have been a fine fit with his father-in-law.
Mitchell won’t sue Hager. This is just pre-relection deflection. There is nothing stopping him telling his lawyers to get cracking on it right now if he was serious. He is not serious, and like with Collins, this case will not see court.
There will, I suspect, be other cases that do see court. But not this one.
As a staunch supporter of the Left, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the dangerous gaps in policy.
Last night I didn’t sleep a wink. Not one party I could call as being from the political Left (Parties that truly care what happens to people) had any mention of one of the most important details of Health and economic development policy on their websites. Over on the Right party sites, they are neck deep in satirical logical fallacies, it’s easy to tell what they really mean, but on the Left, nothing. How would a left coalition government help those in need of Cognitive Dissonance? It’s not 1968 anymore, telling people you’ll do your best if nothing comes up and to put their trust in Good Faith just doesn’t cut it.
You know what happened the other day? I went to find my car and there was this awful stink. It was so bad I thought I’d run over a hedgehog on the way into work. You know what it was? One of those Street Lifestylers wedged between my front bumper and the pipes running along the wall of the building. It was trying to keep warm no doubt. Well someone paid for that heat and he stole it. Why don’t they just hang out in cafes like everyone else if he’s that bad off. God, I hate people who don’t do what’s right. Had to get the parking attendant to roll it away. Reality is becoming so much more difficult to ignore under successive governments and ignoring my growing unease just isn’t on. The next Left government really needs to act.
Awful interview by Espiner on RNZ.
Proof the media will not discuss policies and usual wants to talk polls etc….
Now we’ve read Dirty Politics, we know the agenda.
I just don’t know if personal stuff will have impact, or if it devalues the whole project. Hager’s been very careful to stick to the issues which show how the right has been manipulating the media and attacking its opponents, and we’ve already seen blowback like “well aren’t you doing exactly the same thing using hacked emails.”
If it gets personal it’s much, much easier for the right to brush it off by saying “see, the left are just as bad, this is politics as normal.”
given the nats current penchant for using tobacco companies to train some of its young candidates, whaledump on carrick gragam and slater might be edifying for some
Unbelievable! This no doubt was his attempt at “balance” after the roasting he gave the PM a week or so ago. But shouting 25% six times in a minute, and saying things like “I put it to you that nobody like you” is not the stuff of tough interviews – it is just a shallow and silly attack.
It’s a gotcha question. If Cunliffe answered “Sure, lots of people like me” he’d sound full of himself, if he said “Not enough like me” he’d sound hopeless. It’s like asking when someone stopped beating their wife.
Without a central leaker, Hager would have no book. He salutes their bravery. “We mustn’t fall for the idea that whistleblowers are doing something wrong. They are the natural reaction to undemocratic government.”
QFT
And that, to, is something that the National Party and their sycophants don’t want people to consider. It’s why they parrot the line that things were stolen which is just more of the manipulation that Dirty Politics shows so well.
Author of the Guardian article is Antony Loewenstein – one of the Australian Jewish community’s leading and most trenchant critics of Israel. Wrote My Israel Question (an excellent analysis of, amongst other things, the Zionist/”Pro”-Israeli excesses of sections of the Aussie Jewish community – particularly its lobby-groups) and co-founded Independent Australian Jewish Voices. He’s paid a substantial personal price over the years for his courage and integrity.
Awww .. thx, the Stuff link has excellent info about Whaledump. So Rawshark it is then, and our hacker does seem to be a man. Interesting comment that his motive, when fully understood, will point directly at him, and only him.
It’s a must read for many here.
But OUCH ! comment from someone under the Guardian article ..
‘NZ is the new Uruguay – a once prosperous nation now increasingly a relatively impoverished but scenic backwater’ .
Yes Awww Thanks for the Guardian link. The writer says that the dirty tricks happen all round the world and this expose is very timely. Niky has reached the World. And John Key has plummeted to the bowels of the World.
Mother of dead west coaster Slater defamed said it was most likely one of his friends was most likely the hacker!
And she was going to sue Camoron Slater!
All I’m aware of is the ‘feral’ comment about the dead man which has been reported in the press. I haven’t looked at Slater’s original remarks as I’d rather sort through used lavatory paper looking for re-usable sheets.
I’d think it unlikely, though. Establishing defamation is a pretty high bar. Frankly I doubt even Slater’s comment about Judd Hall as ‘feral’ would be legally defamatory in the way that, say, calling him a fraudster or paedophile would be.
The woman herself, in the morning report interview said as much about the phrase “feral” and said that a lot of people on the coast were quite happy with such a description. I’m not sure whether she specifically included herself in the group but she didn’t seem to find it offensive.
Surprised me. I would have found it so.
There was some speculation amongst a few of us last week about the identity of the hacker and thought it may be a classmate, friend or partner of Judd Hall’s – remember Nicky Hager said the motivation for the hacking wasn’t political.
Jo(e?) Hall, Judd’s Mum , said she hoped that Key would apologise for his connection with Slater when he visited the West Coast today. I think she might be mistaken, assuming that Key has some scruples.
Here’s the thing West Coast Tasman voters. In 2011 you gave your party vote to National, with National receiving the highest amount of party votes. On 20th September turn your backs on this party that has done nothing for you and whose leader stood by the one who mocked the death of one of your sons.
Make “zero party votes for National” your goal in 2014.
Lest we forget, what this present NatACT government has done to us!!!
While much attention has recently been given to the nasty “black ops” activities by a blogger by the name of Cameron Slater (aka “Whaleoil”) and certain senior staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, same as by Judith Collins and a few others, we must not forget what else happened over recent years, and for what Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has been responsible for. Here is a selection of news and other sources re her nasty “welfare reforms” and her own hypocrisy:
“Social Development Minister Paula Bennett admits that part of her welfare reforms breach the Bill of Rights Act but says it would not bother most people.” “And Attorney-General Chris Finlayson denies he deliberately withheld his report advising that part of the Government’s welfare plans breach the Bill of Rights Act. He puts the delay in its presentation to Parliament as an “administrative error”.”
“In July 2009, Bennett released the benefit details of two beneficiaries, Natasha Fuller and Jennifer Johnston, who had criticised the Government’s policy of getting rid of the Training Initiative Allowance (TIA). She said she believed she had “implied consent” for the release of the information.” “There has also been considerable criticism of Bennett for abolishing the TIA. Both Fuller and Labour MP Charles Chauvel said that they would make complaints to the privacy commissioner and Schroff, respectively.”
“The Privacy Commission investigated Bennett’s actions after receiving a complaint. In late 2010, Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff closed her investigation into the privacy complaint and referred the matter to the Director of Human Rights Proceedings for the Human Rights Commission, Robert Hesketh. On 15 August 2012, Hesketh announced the resolution of the complaint under the Privacy Act against Bennett, saying, “On the basis of the Minister’s letter to me, I have agreed to close my file. The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.”[30] In her letter to Hesketh, Bennett wrote: “I have on previous occasions expressed to you through my counsel and to Ms Fuller, when I met with her in person, my regret at the personal cost that this incident has caused Ms Fuller. The purpose of this letter is to formally convey that.”
“As you know, I took the view that it was appropriate for me to respond to some of Ms Fuller’s comments in order to provide what I considered to be information relevant to the public debate that was taking place at the time. I acknowledge that you consider that I was wrong to do so and that this resulted in a breach of Ms Fuller’s privacy.” “As you also know, I do not accept that view.”
Chooky, I am most likely to give the Greens my party vote, although I cannot agree with some of their policies. They do though seem to offer the best deal to those dependent on WINZ, and actually want to bring in a kind of universal basic income, by replacing the present Social Security Act with new law. That basic income would be topped up, and it seems they are prepared to ensure people get enough to live from, whether they care for children, are disabled, studying or whatever else.
Like with all parties, they list much aspirational stuff, but I trust them more than Labour, certainly when it comes to social security. Question will be how much they can push for when negotiating with Labour to form a government, but I have reservations re Internet Mana, as they will most likely not be such an important player, and may not even be needed for a government. Also I have some concerns about Dotcom’s involvement, and how many in the public perceive them.
Labour have got some interesting social policy too now, but they really do much more for those able to work, and in some ways they seem only moderately caring for the unemployed sick and disabled. Work is their mantra for many social ills, a bit like the National Party, just not as unfair and harsh.
But take a look at all left of centre parties’ policies, I just stated my thoughts.
@xtasy…thanks!….that is good to hear about the Greens because i was going to Party vote for them anyway …you just confirm my intended vote ..I have a brother with a handicap and who is on a disability benefit….so i will make sure that he knows your arguments and research too… Generally he votes Labour…but he may like to consider the Greens this time.
Maybe you could turn this into a Post?….so a lot more people get to see your research, arguments and hear your perspective on this very important party policy issue.
I am not going to turn stuff into a post, although this “comment” above is the size of one. Over the coming days and weeks I will present a bit more of stuff that I have saved, that I can find by Google search, and that will remind people of what the Nats under Key and Bennett have done to harm and harass so many.
I will also endeavour to present a bit more on Dr Bratt and so forth. A few good comments on Open Mike will be read by many, I am sure.
well i think many beneficiaries and those who support them do need some guidance on which parties have the BEST policies for them and why….or at least a personal perspective from the coal face to spark off their thinking on which party to vote for
….you could always maybe circulate it in a post on the Daily Blog as well?
Just placed a reserve on Dirty Politics at the library. I am number 63 in the queue and there are 10 copies available for loan….so much for the public not being interested.
you can maybe ask on here for a loan copy from someone .. I can’t help as I have the kindle version on my computer. but asking is worth a try. (And to maintain mutual anonymity, make a new gmail account and post it for someone to contact you. I did it when book first came out, and had it all arranged .. but then ebook was available.)
#320 is a long way down and the election is close !
Good idea yeshe. We could have a Standardista Dirty Politics library. I’m in Wellington and more than happy to lend my copy. This book is essential reading for all NZer’s of any political colour. (principled National voters would be disgusted at the depths their party has sunk to)
I can’t afford to buy books these days (my days collecting of books came to an abrupt end when financial circumstances changed!) but used the grocery money to get my copy. Well worth having baked beans on toast two meals in a row as a consequence!
maybe not the same person, but same intent !! And more ….
I see the Pike River families are planning a silent protest at Key this afternoon with Jo Hall ( Judd’s mother) hopeful of an apology from Key .. well, at least she’s going to make it plain it is what she expects.
(oops .. just saw your previous post on same subject, sorry)
What I did last week — I created a new gmail account, with a family name .. then I posted that email addy on here for the poster to contact me, which he did. I don’t know if his name was real or not ! Good luck …
I’d suggest, if it were ok with Lynn, that if a person requested to borrow a book, that Lynn could forward the “issuer’s” email address to the “borrower”. This would perhaps mean there would a be a list on this site with commenters/issuers and their areas, that borrowers could select from. Borrower x see’s that issuer y in Tauranga has a copy of The Book they can lend. They get in touch via email and arrange collection or postage.
There needs to be an element of trust in doing this, but I feel more comfortable with option than yeshe’s one below. (Could you get spammed by crazies?)
Depends on whether Lynn and or authors have the time to muck around supplying emails.
or you could just strip out the DRM form a purchased copy from amazon and share that, takes less than 3 minutes to do. After all, information should be free and copyright is an outdated concept enforced by the fascist lackeys of corporates. If it wasn’t against the law (and I respect the property rights of the Standard), I’d a post a link to it here. Wouldn’t surprise me however if its not already on Mega.
“or you could just strip out the DRM form a purchased copy from amazon and share that, takes less than 3 minutes to do.”
How? I had a look online simply so I could open the book in something other than kindle which doesn’t support page numbering (doh!). The couple of online and download apps I tried couldn’t rip the book.
I have said I would never again post on TS, but in this case, I’m willing to make an exception. I will lend my copy. Contact me at “borrowdp [at] hmamail.com”
How long does your library loan books for? I would assume that it is a week so only 3 more people will get each book before the election.
I imagine the number on the list will go to zero on 21 September.
Didn’t hear it but heard my husband abusing the radio when he heard it. Didn’t blame him when he told me about guyons incisive, in depth interview of Cumliffe. I think DC should just send ‘The Office’ next time. Trying to get a decent interview from guyon is just a waste of time for David. Who says to ANYONE “I put it to you that nobody likes you” Well guyon, you are universally disliked , you could be better but you choose daily to show yourself up as a biased, boring lazy interviewer. And your voice is barely distinguishable from Susie’s
Nothing terribly surprises me anymore, but I have to admit that the NZ Herald is challenging that.
Today in the Herald there’s two puff pieces on National and none on Labour. Worse we get this in one of the puff pieces on National;
“National has goodies in reserve Labour is reaching the bottom of the pork barrel with its remaining election campaign spending promises curbed by Treasury’s forecasts last week of lower tax take.”
That’s the bit that everybody sees on the website.
The other puff piece, and the bit that everybody sees is;
“Housing plan: Winners and losers
National’s proposed home loan subsidies could help many young people into their first homes – although experts warn that the extra money will also push up house price”
Labour’s budget is presented as an ‘alternative’ budget.
There’s a story in the Money section titled;
“How to “Labour-proof” your portfolio”.
I cannot see how it is possible to maintain a democracy under these conditions.
“I cannot see how it is possible to maintain a democracy under these conditions.”
Only the illusion of democracy remains, soon as you understand that it makes sense.
Rawdie’s bloody thick as well. Just not up to it. Watch the uneasy pause, the shamble, the momentary ‘just sucked a lemon’ mouth when he gets a challenging response to whatever facile question/assertion he’s put/made.
Followed by eyes averted, semi-smile recovery. “W-e-e-l-l-l-l……nevertheless……”
Anyone catch that clip on telly this weekend where Slater said he would be involved in politics long after Key had left the scene?
And in a moment of supreme zen weirdness he said he had “met and dealt with” every PM from Muldoon onward?
How old is he? 40? If so, he reckons he was dealing with Muldoon when he was 10, and with Lange when he was 11. And he goes on telly and squints into the camera and says this as if it’s real.
Jesus, this is the fucking spoon Key got to help him run the country.
Remember his father was the president of the National party for years so dinner party’s bbq’s etc no doubt Camoron would have met and been influenced by National Party insiders he is a credit to all of them!
Prior to becoming the Nat Party president, he was the chairman of the all important Auckland National Division going back to the 1970s. Wee Cameron would have been the recipient of a lot of head patting from National Party senior figures as he grew up. Perhaps his head sustained a bit of damage in the process.
Doesn’t take Guyon long to revert to type, viz. snooty little clipped-tones toff, barely suppressing the alter ego of ‘Headmaster GodKey’ sans smirk lurking within. Michelle-Boag-on-steroids Ferguson equally unfit for RNZ Morning Report.
How unartful are these media lads and lassies when the only route to the guts of matters is their anger at being personally affronted ? As for example the “Is it OK ?” episode Guyon with TheGodKey last week.
An outstanding blog by Giovanni Tiso this morning.
I would have left a message congratulating him, but couldn’t figure out the new comments configuration on his site. So I’ll say it here: Bravo!
Just shows how inured we are to these kinds of arguments.
My particular bugbear is the false equivalence arguments where some nobody getting kicked unconscious in a gutter equals one Person Who Matters feeling insulted by a criticism about their behaviour. And we see these kinds of false equivalences and unequal treatment according to status all the time in the media because the bias it reflects is so ingrained – in a large part by the media itself in an obscene vicious circle with public opinion.
A beneficiary is vilified for not being able to make ends meet on a benefit set at a rate which makes doing so impossible, while in the same issue of the paper a Remuera couple who lost money in a collapsed finance company gets a sympathy piece and their “give a little” page which is up to $50,000 of donations is advertised because they might have to sell their house and buy something more affordable.
And who has been deliberately creating and maintaining these circles?
I agree, and this election has shown up the assumptions associated with inequality like no other. A National Party ad that verges on self parody, and could almost double as an ad for a posh private school. The hounding and demeaning of every representative on the left, while the PM, who really is accountable, is allowed to alter the meaning of words, and refuse to answer questions with impunity. Debate seems to have descended to the level of sixth form bitchery with the “aspirational” dominating the common room and the remainder cast as flea-bags. I am all but waiting for some lip-glossed, right leaning, TV presenter to shout, “You can’t say that to me, because I’m a TV presenter and I’m beautiful!”
Dame Anne Salmond: Royal commission of inquiry needed to clean up NZ’s dirty politics.
.
The Dirty Politics saga cuts to the heart of political life in New Zealand. Over the past 10 years there has been an insidious shift in the way that government works, with increasingly autocratic, arrogant ministers taking away the levers of power from citizens and civil servants.
The independence of the civil service has been eroded, with ministers routinely interfering in operational decisions. Last year, the Law Society felt impelled to report to the United Nations that Parliament had been used to pass a succession of acts that strip away rights, freedoms and protections from citizens, in breach of the Bill of Rights. Ministerial accountability has become a farce.
Lets see, John Key didn’t sell any assets as the controlling share is still held by the government whereas Labour sold 100% of the assets (and also a lot more then National ever did)
National strengthened the overseas investment rules (which were woeful under Labour) and yes more land was sold under Labour then has been sold under National
Also hes stated no more asset sales this term, its still legal to join a union and promoting free healthcare to under 13s
Yes hes a RWNJ and wants us to return to feudalism
Do we still own 100% of our power stations? No? Assets sold. And, due to the laws in NZ that prevent the majority shareholder from doing anything to decrease returns to minor shareholders means that we no longer have any control either
Chances are National only did that because knew that they wouldn’t get away with doing what they actually wanted.
Dear DTB and labour are going to sell housing nz land as part of kiwibuild. Funny how it is ok to sell nz state assets when we do it. A great opportunity lost as the land could be better used IMHO for new state houses. Then we have today in the herald 40m2 houses on 119m2 sections at a bargin $339k , is this what affordable housing has become we the voter should be demanding that state land esp within Auckland be used to build state houses, and also help to reduce the govt housing subsidy paid to land lords.
I don’t think it’s OK at all. I’m not impressed one bit by Labour’s housing policy. We need more state houses, and for many reasons. A good building program would provide training, employment, push prices down and have a follow on effect on private rents.
More than a third of voters may change their vote over Dirty Politics. Game changer.
“The shadow of ‘Dirty Politics’ still hangs over the campaign. John Key is not answering questions about the book on the trail anymore. He is trying to draw a line under it in the hope it has not damaged his and National’s position too badly. National’s internal polling is said to show the book’s revelations are not resonating with the public.
However, TVNZ’s Vote Compass survey found the book had affected 36% of the 13,913 voters who took the online poll, who said it may change their vote to varying degrees”
And on another issue National is on the wrong side of:
“A 3News Reid Research poll released last night showed 77% of voters believed there should be stricter controls on foreign ownership and 20% said there should not be stricter controls”
my favourite from the link .. thx BG .. good to be reminded this is all we need …
“The knife-edge nature of the electoral mathematics of MMP mean a loss of 2-3% support from National would be enough to put its re-election in doubt, and it is already going into the election with opinion poll support around 2-3% lower than in the lead-up to the 2011 election, which it won by less than 10,000 votes.”
Key cannot blame it on left wing conspiracy theorists any more!
Cameron Slater and Conman Key have to take Personal Responsibility for their self made mess!
Key can’t even blame dotcom!
Key is now trying to mumble his way round the massive mess of his own creation!
Key sounds like a lying little school boy!
Whoa! Didn’t know this one. There’s no mincing of words there. A bit edgy, I must admit but then again they weren’t” listened to” in 2011 (Listen to us) so the resentment edged up another notch. What does Farrar expect, the boys choir praising Key?
Excellent bass line. Quite uncomfortable with the threatening reference to fucking Key’s daughter though.
It’s a bit shocking Peter but then again a) it’s not going to happen b)I’ve listened to music all my life so am familiar with violent anti authority expressions and c) this view sums up my sentiments perfectly:
“………….. I don’t have to like it. I understand why its happening. When your suppress people and their voice it breaks through and it is not pretty as it would have been if you let them have a say in the first place.”
anker @24 11.16am
My main concern is with Key’s daughter being threatened. She has nothing to do with the running of the country and the threat sounds rather rapey to me. Myself I don’t like or dislike the lyrics (but like the melody) but I wouldn’t play it when people are around at my house, even guests that feel just as angry towards Key as @peace do.
I’ve listened a few times, and I agree Rosie that bit about Key’s daughter shocked me. Then listening through a few times, I think it’s a bragging attempt, and a pick up line – sad I know. It’s not that unusual for hip-hop artist – to do these brags. I think they deliberately made this section of the song shocking, but he does a vocal twist at end – to introduce himself and make it apparent who he talking to.
That said, they use shock a lot in their songs, and sexist language. Here for the other tunes.
*Now that I have your attention, may I remind you that
130,000 ELIGIBLE PEOPLE UNDER 25 HAVE NOT YET ENROLLED.
The current PM does not care about these people. He does not care about the growing gap between the rich and the poor in our country. He does not care about the native people of our country. He does not care about the planet we depend upon to survive, the living organism that we as humans are a functioning part of. He does not care about the right we should all have to an education. He only cares about him and his friends.
I do not want to literally kill this man. I do not wish to have sexual relations with anybody related to him. Let’s not pretend a silly little song ever changed anything. Last I seen famine was still going pretty strong since ‘Heal The World’ came out. It’s just a song. No different from Thatcher era punk. Anyone ever heard “Maggie you’re a cunt”..?
What’s important is that we ENROL TO VOTE so that we have a chance to select someone to represent us who understands the concept of empathy.
I’m fed up with this dude. But if you want to vote for him, that’s your choice. Personally, I’m voting Greens but you can vote for whoever you like. You can choose between a whole bunch of different people who represent a whole bunch of different ideologies. That’s the beauty of the political system in NZ.
Please respect my right to express my disappointment for the leader of our country.*
Thats a well written statement. Clarifies the violent intent (none) and expands on the message.
I get what you’re saying adam re the boasting/ bragging and have heard it plenty of times in songs. Get’s a bit eye rolly though, as a woman hearing it. Thanks for sharing other tunes. I’ve made a mental note to have a listen when I get a chance.
I run a small business and none of the IMP policies worry me at all. I’m more worried about the mismanagement by national and the old boys clubs with infest national, and some could say labour.
This is not capitalism, in capitalism you got to take the hits and gains. The highs and the lows. This is profit taking and a mad rush to get the last of the resources.
Yep. It seems the Left have a bit of impression management and communication to the small business sector catch up with. Policies which make the life of small business owners simpler and give our customers more disposable income is all good for SMEs.
Because more then likely the Greens would come in as well and the Greens are wanting to implement more costs over water rights so why would farmers vote for more costs?
Kim Dotcom has told OneNews the big international name who will play a role in the bombshell he’ll drop on the prime minister: WikiLeaks founder and fugitive Julian Assange, who’s holed up in Ecuador’s London embassy, is set to take part in a pre-election attack on John Key.
“I can give you a hint. Someone who is currently locked up in an embassy might be on a live video link,” Mr Dotcom said.
Mr Dotcom had warned something big will come out on September 15, just five days from the election.
He has already hired journalist Glen Greenwald, who made public the Edward Snowdon leaks. Now the addition of Mr Assange confirms the September 15 event will be about New Zealand’s spying.
Asked will September 15 do more damage to Mr Key than the Dirty Politics book has, Mr Dotcom told OneNews: “I think so.”
KDC said that thing during the IMP launch about how he didn’t like the German PM so hacked his credit rating to zero, and there is another PM he doesn’t like. Makes me uncomfortable, when he talks about what he wants and likes etc, instead of talking about the general good. Still too much ego and I’m just glad he’s not gunning for someone on the left (this could just as easily be about a Labour govt as a NACT one).
While I understand how KDC’s actions fall outside of healthy political action – it’s also why IMP is the dark horse in this election.
Increasingly young people are no longer interested in conventionally sanctioned political actions. They increasingly see the entire system as compromised at best – irredeemably corrupted at worst.
For them this kind of direct action, redolent of the “V” and “Anonymous” memes, holds far more appeal.
Agreed, IMP are effective in what they do. I think I will just keep expressing my discomfit about KDC himself, because as bad as things are now we still have many good things to lose.
Am also getting sick of the whole “we’re fucked” as youth slogan thing. We do have choices, and more choices this election than ever. I really wish people would get over the idea that voting is about getting what one wants. It’s not, it’s about moving us towards a better place, or even just a place where it’s easier to do the real work of effecting change. I’ve never been able to vote for a party that represents me well, but that hasn’t stopped me from seeing the value in voting. All power to IMP, I hope they do really well, but I still think that we should be encouraging people to vote because it’s a form of power irrespective of whether there is a cool party to vote for or not (and it’s not like back in the FPP dark ages when I would have had to be voting Labour at this point 😉
Yeah – and it’s worth keeping in mind that a lot of real change comes from radicals outside of the system who over time learn to work effectively within it.
On the other hand the “we’re fucked” thing will need to find a legitimate political outlet sooner or later. Preferably sooner – and if KDC is the vehicle then so be it. No-one else seems to have put their hand up.
Yeah – and it’s worth keeping in mind that a lot of real change comes from radicals outside of the system who over time learn to work effectively within it.
or alternatively, pressure from radicals and mass movements which choose to never compromise sufficiently to become part of the establishment – but who by doing so effectively force those within the establishment to take those radical viewpoints into account. A historical example of this was FDR’s New Deal. Without massive pressure from workers and socialist movements – including riots and dozens of strikers killed – FDR would never have passed the New Deal. As a conciliatory figure trying to protect the future of capitalism, he had to.
Can include also the fact that TPPA is another attempt at resurrecting the MAI that was roundly rejected back in 1998. Laila Harre has pointed out to the role of online opposition in defeating the MAI and we can do it again [on video online that I viewed recently and I would be happy if someone can find it].
Worth referring to Bryan Gould’s piece in December last year which refers to the MAI-TPPA connection:
“Part of a protest march moves through Wellington in 1998, on its way to Parliament. The Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) was proposed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), of which New Zealand is a member. The MAI was intended to provide a framework for international investment based on highly liberalised national investment controls and improved investment protection, with effective dispute settlement procedures, open to non-OECD countries. The proposal provoked vehement opposition internationally. Those opposed argued the MAI favoured big business and was being imposed without adequate consultation. In the end, the initiative collapsed.”
EiE @19.1.1. Don’t like the song. Not the way to go.
On another note did anyone see, has anyone noticed David Fisher, about his relationship with Slater. Don’t have the link at hand. I wonder how many more we are going to see like this coming out of the word work.
It’s just a song. It won’t appeal to middle NZ sensibilities. And it’s not helpful for unpoisoning our politics. But Neoliberal policies are actually killing tens of thousands in NZ before their due time and we all accept that.
No, it isn’t mildly distasteful. It is way, way worse than that and sentiments encouraging rape and violence should not be considered justifiable by anybody professing to be left wing. I loathe John Key and fear for the future of NZ if he gets reelected. This song is more likely to get him sympathy at a time that those who thought he was great are beginning to ask questions. Really dumb.
I inwardly groan when I see a leftie express the anger in terms of violence or killing political opponents (in a country like NZ that isn’t a war zone). I don’t think it’a helpful to the left at all.
It’s because they either don’t want it to turn up in the polls – or they hoping they bury their heads long enough it will go away.
But just stop and talk to the young people, they are pissed off. They see what’s happening, they are not stupid. I talk to young mum’s and dads on a regular basis – they feel the future is going to be absolute hell for their kids. – I think they are right.
“I worry about what will replace it when the anger is expressed in the language of violence.”
Yeah it’s a worry alright. But it’s also entirely predictable considering the violence this govt and those they represent have inflicted on large segments of the populace.
This is a really important conversation. We’ve seen a generation of young people alienated from the political process – and that is never a stable condition.
Sooner or later something or someone will trigger that instability – and this small country may see consequences from our deepest nightmares.
It’s why the left must keep campaigning hard to get these people back voting.
Oh poor key and sophie
Key himself draws his kids into it. I’ll try and hunt it out but there’s the time Key had been bailed up about some shares – tranzrail? – and he quipped ‘ I even offered them to Max and he didn’t want them..’
The article linked on karol’s post perhaps anker? It’s an excellent article. Shines a light on a topic, their relationship with sources, that no other journalists, most likely for a myriad of reasons, have not been able or will not to raise.
Rod Oram on Radionz on housing policies at moment, National first then Labour. Good as usual.
Says that a big change will be needed from the trend to build expensive homes as being more profitable. He talks about the building sector needing to have sort of templates to design and build cheaper homes. If we had an active government, there would be model houses designed for country-wide use, for cost and materials and practicality designed by people using their specialist knowledge for the benefit of NZs. A Buildings department would be a good idea. I think we have something of that nature that is prevented from being the needed guide by some ill-advised ideology.
EiE @ 22.1 Yep that is true. I don’t have to like it. I understand why its happening. When your suppress people and their voice it breaks through and it is not pretty as it would have been if you let them have a say in the first place.
As ratshit ridiculous and plainly unprofessional as Gower can be in the visual medium Plunket comes across as the overbearing, hectoring bully in the talkback context. One for Gower here. Neither however approach the master of the universe chappie coining himself “Well Oi’ll Bee Fooked”.
The scum involved in #dirtypolitics were/are only a phone call removed from sinister shit like this.
The National Security Agency is secretly providing data to nearly two dozen U.S. government agencies with a “Google-like” search engine built to share more than 850 billion records about phone calls, emails, cellphone locations, and internet chats, according to classified documents obtained by The Intercept.
The documents provide the first definitive evidence that the NSA has for years made massive amounts of surveillance data directly accessible to domestic law enforcement agencies. Planning documents for ICREACH, as the search engine is called, cite the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration as key participants.
ICREACH contains information on the private communications of foreigners and, it appears, millions of records on American citizens who have not been accused of any wrongdoing. Details about its existence are contained in the archive of materials provided to The Intercept by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
and this published online, dated today … lots in there I don’t personally understand, but the machinations seem deep and acidly corrosive. Have we just been been surfing on a cesspit this whole time ? Eeew.
ah, more traditional right-wing stalkerising.
Tell me, did farrar base the alleged green-connection on stolen membership records, or simply because the guy turned up to a protest?
I think he based it more on what the guy put on his own facebook page however I concede it may have been put there by a vengeful SIS in an effort to make the drop kick look bad
yes, because whenever I see someone in the court news I need to see what posts on their facebook page can be twisted for my purposes 🙄 #rightwingstalkers
protip: not everyone who says “fuck john key” is a “green party activist”.
Hey PR, was it you who – a week or so before #hagerbook – was here bragging that the dirty tricks crew have one story/smear to release every day until the election?
This shit has got to end. So many questions like that from Brent Robinson going unanswered. He quite categorically states that Mitchell told him he had hired Lusk and Slater to do the dirty work. Now Mitchell is denying ever having spoken to Robinson about it.
This guy Mitchell is an ex mercenary, the worst type of hired thug you can get. What do the good people of Rodney think? More needs to be made of this story including some effing journos door-stepping Mitchell.
xox
Present at Oxfam Climate Change Debate in Wellington. VUW. Rutherford house. Greens present,Labour present, NZFirst present. National absent. The worlds under serious threat. National , no show. Incredible.
Funny eh? Seems that the narrow constraints of polite political discourse conducted by a handful of utterly conflicted and well-heeled insiders has somehow completely misread the depth of the disgust and contempt this govt inspires in many, many people.
John Key failed to distance himself from Slater even when he was on the West Coast and face to face with the mother of the young man over whose death Slater danced for joy and talked with Key about. Key had nothing to say to her and Key stood with Slater. Says it all.
Interesting that Labour’s David Parker (at the debate in Queenstown tonight) argues against ‘low value’ immigration on the basis the modern economy has a diminishing need for labour, yet he is intent on pushing the age of Super out, increasing the labour pool.
That just goes to show that he’s an unreconstructed Rogernome at heart. If the left lose this time, I think he will be at least as responsible as any individual.
Weka. Use caliber to manage your books. It’s pretty much an iTunes equivalent for ebooks. Apparently there are addins for it that you can find on the interweb that automatically perform various tasks. Depending on the task u want to automate, just Google for it.
do you mean Calibre? I already use that, but it can’t read the Kindle version of Dirty Politics. Once imported into Calibre, it will prompt Kindle to open and show the book there instead. Like I said, I tried various ripping options and none of them could get past the DRM, so I’m curious how you think it can be ripped easily within a few minutes.
Edit: ah ok, I see what you mean. There is a Kindleunpackit addon that creates a new file that can be read in Calibre and presumably ripped to PDF etc. cheers.
Before Jacingrant There Was Gracinda: Grant Robertson and his 2014 running mate, Jacinda Ardern. She stood at his side: loyal and obliging, as she had ever been. The media dubbed this duo “Gracinda” – a sort of political “Brangelina”. The other young people who worked alongside Robertson were also ambitious ...
. . Just when you thought Simon Bridges couldn’t sink any lower – he has. After the March 15th Christchurch terror attack, the (current) Leader of the National Party issued strong committments to support urgently needed gun law reform; “We will be ready and prepared to be constructive and to ...
We all know that bad parents simply don’t care about their children’s education. Most truants have loser parents, and grow up to be involved with crime, or in low paid employment usually like their parents. The nonsense so-called “climate strike” coming up will be attended mostly by the least intelligent ...
Is the terrorist Organisation Greenpeace and the loony Green parties around the World hiring professional internet trolls? I have noticed a trend lately where if you post research, news articles or even comments that show the manmade climate change scam to be just that, you are immediately attacked, often within ...
Today is the first day of the global climate strike. Led by schoolkids, people all around the world are going to protest to demand action on climate change. New Zealand isn't doing it till next Friday (join us!), but if you want to get active early, there's plenty to do ...
The Herald has a story today about the 400 MW of wind power currently under construction. Good news, right? Except that none of it is being driven by policy (instead, its about replacing Contact Energy's Taranaki Combined Cycle gas-fired power plant, due to shut down in 2022), and most of ...
To Protect and Serve: When the Prime Minister finds herself enmeshed in the coils of a full-blown political scandal, her colleagues and party comrades have only one priority: to release her as swiftly – and with as little lasting injury – as possible. Is this what Jacinda Ardern’s colleagues and ...
When military leaders cover up and lie to elected civilian authorities, the foundation of democratic civil-military relations is undermined because it is those authorities who are entrusted to hold the military accountable to the public that they mutually serve. But this is only true if civilian political authorities take their ...
The Make It 16 campaign to lower the voting age is launching this afternoon, and they have already announced plans to challenge the law in court:The campaign, named "Make it 16" will launch at Parliament on Friday, with plans to take their case to the High Court, testing the rights ...
by Daphna Whitmore The long years of Netanyahu’s reign are drawing to an end. For years he has epitomized reactionary zionism as he oversaw hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers seize land in the West Bank. There are now 700,000 settlers, putting an end to the myth that Israel was ...
BP, Z and Mobil all insist that petrol price hikes are temporary, “in a very literal sense.” The nation’s major petrol providers are trying to allay customer fears over prices, promising that they’ll move to lower them again “immediately” when the Middle East is returned to its formerly peaceful state. ...
South African coach Rassie Erasmus says he has no idea what they’re going to do about the boat. In a highly anticipated press conference this afternoon, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has finally unveiled the team’s boat for its Rugby World Cup 2019 campaign. In a press conference that went ...
The Operation Burnham inquiry continued to question senior NZDF staff today, and their shoddy coverup over their knowledge of civilian casualties continue to fall apart. If you recall, first, we were asked to believe that it was all a series of "mistakes and errors": a senior officer with multiple degrees ...
The Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2) had part of its committee stage yesterday. its a generally tedious bill about the nitty-gritty of local government reorganisation. But it includes a clause making the Local Government Commission subject to the Ombudsmen Act, and hence the OIA. Great! Except of ...
Yesterday Ihumātao's mana whenua reached a consensus that they would like their land back, and asked the government to negotiate with Fletcher's for its return. The government's response? Try and undermine that consensus, while talking about how doing anything would undermine existing Treaty settlements. The first is just more bad ...
Its Suffrage Day, the 126th anniversary of women winning the right to vote (but not stand in elections) in New Zealand. And to celebrate, the government has bought Kate Sheppard's house in Christchurch:The government has bought Kate Sheppard's former home in Christchurch for more than $4 million. The Ilam villa ...
The UN climate summit is happening in new York next week, and unlike previous years, coal-burners and denier-states are not being invited to speak:Leading economies such as Japan and Australia will not be invited to speak at next week’s crunch UN climate change summit, as their continued support for coal ...
Get Back Jojo! The elation in Mayor Phil Goff’s camp may be easily imagined as they watched social media light up in indignation at challenger John Tamihere’s "Sieg Heil to that" quip. Just when JT’s notoriously right-wing, sexist and homophobic stains were beginning to fade back into his ‘colourful’ past, ...
Patrick Gower is good value when he's high. Not that I've ever, you know, got stoned with him. But in the second part of his documentary Patrick Gower on Weed, he does what you'd expect in a modern weed documentary and immerses himself – first with a doctor, then a ...
We surveyed candidates on their attitudes to issues facing the Western Bay Region, find out what they think: “Closing the Gap” Tauranga, one of the area groups of Income Equality Aotearoa NZ Inc., has surveyed all candidates in the three local body elections to discover attitudes to some basic issues ...
Please spread widely, and sign, to support science and rationalism over the new irrationalism sweeping universities and institutions. PROJECT NETTIE Sexual reproduction, the generation of offspring by fusion of genetic material from two different individuals, evolved over 1 billion years ago. It is the reproductive strategy of all higher animals ...
Just when I was thinking that Palmerston North's mayoral race (which includes a convicted child molester / public wanker and a convicted child beater) was the worst in the country, Auckland mayoral candidate John Tamihere opened his mouth:Auckland mayoral candidate John Tamihere is being slammed for using the words "sieg ...
We reprint below an article from the excellent website the Economics of Imperialism by Tony Norfield This is an update of the statistics for my Index of Power, using data for 2018-19 and discussing what a country’s ranking reflects. The major change is that China’s rank has shifted up and ...
The All Blacks have been, for more than a century, arguably the most successful International sports team in the world. But they are more than that; even for those Kiwis who are immune to the charms of rugby (and there are more than a few), the All Blacks are ambassadors ...
Alone, Alone, All, All, Alone: To argue that the Prime Minister is the victim of her advisers’ failure to keep her informed may offer Jacinda some measure of exoneration – but only at the cost of casting her as a hopeless political ingénue. A star-dusted muppet, whose only purpose is to ...
In times of hysteria about the “World coming to an end” and “rising sea levels” so-called ‘Journalists’ who can barely spell words longer than four letters are having a ball! Though the majority of the Public have worked out that manmade climate change is nothing short of pseudo-science, and the ...
I don't want to give pblicity to certain parts of the internet that are better left to fester in their own irrelevance (I know, a bit like this place) but the listing of Chris Trotter as a 'author' on Cameron Slater's spinoff website, the BFD requires some explanation.Now, I don't ...
The text below is a Twitter thread by Heather Heying that explains the essence of sexual reproduction and it long evolutionary history. She is an evolutionary biologist and a “professor-in-exile” after she and her husband, Bret Weinstein, stood up to supporters of an enforced “Day of Absence” for white staff and teachers ...
With crunch time for new Zealand climate policy approaching, most of the New Zealand media have got on board with a global reporting effort to cover the issue. There's one strand of stories today about polling and what it shows about changing public attitudes to the crisis, but the strand ...
Dangerous Foes: For those readers of Bowalley Road who feel disposed to dismiss any prospect of an Israeli destabilisation of New Zealand politics, the example of the United Kingdom repays close attention. Ever since the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the British Labour Party, the Israelis have sanctioned, funded and ...
Make It 16, the youth-led campaign to lower New Zealand's voting age, is holding an official campaign launch at Parliament this Friday from 16:30. If you'd like to attend, you can register using EventBrite here. ...
by Don Franks It was a lovely sunny Wellington afternoon with blue skies above the beaches. In Courtenay Place, political activists packed out a stuffy upstairs room for an important meeting. The assembled pacifists, anarchists, communists and independent young radicals of Peace Action Wellington felt the need for a mission ...
Current and former NZDF top brass are being publicly grilled this week by the hit and run inquiry over their public responses to allegations of civilian casualties. Previously, they've claimed there were no casualties, a position which led them to lie to Ministers and to the public. Now, they're saying ...
by Rafael D. Quiles (gender-critical gay man from Puerto Rico) The writing on the wall is right in people’s faces and people just don’t see it or don’t want to. What could actually possess a heterosexual male to want to feminize himself and claim that he is a lesbian? Because ...
From the Wall Street Journal:Inside a room of the ornately decorated Hotel du Palais during last month’s Group of Seven summit in Biarritz, France, President Trump awaited a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Mr. Trump looked over a gathering of American and Egyptian officials and called out in ...
by the Redline blog collective At Redline we are very saddened to hear of the death of Magdalen Burns who passed away on the morning of Friday, September 13 (British time). Magdalen was a great fighter for the rights of women in general and lesbian women in particular, a defender ...
The Brexit issue has certainly brought with it a series of apparently difficult constitutional issues, many of them concerning the respective roles of the executive and parliament. Most of them arise because of the unwillingness of MPs, despite their professions to the contrary, to be bound by a constitutional rarity ...
. . This blogpost is different to my usual format of reporting on issues… Since July 1011, I have blogged on a variety of political issues; near always political and/or environmental; mostly highly critical of the previous National Government. Other issues included Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and repression of ...
Those close to the Police Minister believe the initiative may be the result of Nash “seeing a great deal” on AliExpress. In a move that comes seemingly out of nowhere, Police Minister Stuart Nash announced this afternoon that he expects all frontline staff to don bearskin hats, famously worn by ...
The government has released its Arms Legislation Bill, containing the second tranche of changes to gun laws following the March 15 massacre. And it all looks quite sensible: a national gun register, higher penalties for illegal possession and dealing, tighter restrictions on arms dealers and shooting clubs, and a shorter ...
Private prisons are a stain on humanity. Prison operators explicitly profit from human misery, then lobby for longer prisons terms so they can keep on profiting. And in the US, prison companies run not only local and state prisons, but also Donald Trump's immigration concentration camps. Faced with this moral ...
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Moving And Shaking: There was a time when people spoke matter-of-factly about the “labour movement” – a political phenomenon understood to embrace much more than the Labour Party. Included within the term’s definition was the whole trade union movement – many of whose members looked upon the Labour Party as ...
by Philip Ferguson Much of the left, even people who formally identify as marxists, have collapsed politically in the face of postmodern gender theory of the sort pioneered by American philosopher Judith Butler. For Butler even biological sex is socially constructed. “If the immutable character of sex is contested, perhaps ...
The media is reporting that the (alleged) Labour party sexual assaulter has resigned from their job at Parliament, which means hopefully he won't be turning up there making people feel unsafe in future. Good. But as with everything about this scandal, it just raises other questions. Most significantly: why the ...
By Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern I am every bit as angry as you are. I am every bit as disappointed as you must be. The people with power, oversight and the ability to do something about these processes within the Labour Party should be ashamed. Whoever those people are, I ...
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By Simon Bridges. The following is a press release from the office of Simon Bridges, leader of The National Party. Key ora, New Zealand. Happy Maori Language Week. Look, I’m writing to you today because I want to clear something up. There’s been a lot of kerfuffle around some things ...
I understand there's some stuff going round about how the SIS "was removed from the list of public offices covered by the Public Records Act in 2017". The context of course being their records derived from US torture, which will be disposed of or sealed. The good news is that ...
Dr. Christopher Labos and Jonathan Jarry discuss the recent Canadian fluoride/IQ research. They provide an expert analysis of the paper and its problems. Click on image to go to podcast. The critical debate about the recent ...
Australia is burning down again, and meanwhile its natural disaster minister is denying climate change:Australia’s minister responsible for drought and natural disasters, David Littleproud, has said that he doesn’t “know if climate change is manmade”. Clarifying earlier comments that the question is “irrelevant” when considering the Coalition government’s response to ...
Auckland Philippines Solidarity is excited to host Professor Judy Taguiwalo for a speaking tour of NZ in September. She is a well-known activist in the Philippines and was a political prisoner under the Marcos dictatorship. Professor Taguiwalo briefly served as a Cabinet member under President Duterte but was forced from ...
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Today is a Member's day, and David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill continues its slow crawl through its committee stage. They're spending the whole day on it today, though the first hour is likely to be spent on voting left over from last time. After that they'll move on ...
An ambitious plan to fly to Los Angeles petered out into a brief sight-seeing trip and a desire to return home and get some sleep before work tomorrow. Air New Zealand has confirmed a flight to Los Angeles last night was turned back about a quarter of the way into ...
There appears to be consensus – by omission – that the concept of indigenous futures should be accepted at face value. So I scavenged the internet to see if I could locate an academic descriptor or a framework around how we think about it as a concept, and whether it ...
Here’s another novelty chocolate to shove in your gob, New Zealand Cadbury could be seeking to make itself great again with a rumoured new release: Pineapple Trumps, a spin on its classic chocolate-encased pineapple treat and do-it-yourself tooth remover. The global confectionery manufacturer and bumbling “before” character in an infomercial, ...
During my time in the Pentagon I had the privilege of sitting down with military leaders and defence and security officials from a variety of Latin American nations. Sometimes I was present as a subordinate assistant to a senior US defence department official, sometimes as part of a delegation that ...
Kia ora, Aotearoa. It’s that magical time of year. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. In English, the week that frightens talk radio. As you probably know by now, all your favourite media outlets are participating, some more successfully than others. Stuff has changed its name to Puna for the ...
Eighteen months ago, the government promised to strengthen the Bill of Rights Act, by explicitly affirming the power of the courts to issue declarations of inconsistency and requiring Parliament to formally respond to them. So how's that going? I was curious, so I asked for all advice about the proposal. ...
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The allocation of money for publicly funded broadcasting for election campaigns should be turned on it's head according to Massey University professor of communication design Claire Robinson. ...
Disappointment expressed by Fletcher Building CEO, Ross Taylor, reflects the increasing frustration held by many with this Government’s failure to protect private property rights.[1] ...
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Federated Farmers congratulates the Auditor-General’s office on its release today of its report Managing Freshwater Quality: Challenges and Opportunities. ...
Growth has now slowed to a 6-year low, and downside risks are dominating. June quarter GDP growth came in at 0.5%qoq, in line with our expectation, and slightly above consensus. Although there were a few sensational reports of the chance of a negative print. ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is calling the release of the National Climate Change Risk Assessment (NCCRA) framework a good first step in balancing New Zealand’s response to climate change. ...
Family First NZ says that a new Colorado report compiled by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area finds marijuana-positive traffic fatalities, hospitalisations, marijuana use, and illegal market activity have exploded since marijuana legalization. ...
This year’s Ratepayers’ Report , local government league tables released yesterday, reveals which local councils owe the most and which owe the least. ...
Rachel MacGregor welcomes the decision released today by Justice Hinton. The key issue on which all the various litigation has been based is the question, did Colin Craig sexually harass Rachel. That question has been answered – he did. Justice ...
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) has today ratified a ground breaking pay deal with Dunedin Railways which will see all union members being paid a living wage and the lowest paid receiving an 18% wage increase. Higher paid RMTU members ...
Inclusion for trans women/men and non-binary peoples has today been announced as the cornerstone of a new resolution for the National Council of Women New Zealand (NCWNZ). ...
It took a testy Morning Report interview this week to remind me that Simon Bridges was still the Leader of the Opposition. Until then, he had been largely invisible as the events of recent weeks unfolded. ...
The National Council of Women NZ has today welcomed the news that the Government has purchased Kate Sheppard’s house in Christchurch, the base for the NZ suffrage campaign. ...
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The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is questioning why, for the second time, Jacinda Ardern has appointed a Crown-owned company Chief Executive to Chair her “Business Advisory Council”, following her announcement that Mercury CEO Fraser Whineray ...
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NZEI Te Riu Roa members will be joining with others across the union movement by wearing black and white in support of pay equity on Suffrage Day tomorrow, and urging the Government to commit to a settlement for teacher aides this year. ...
Yesterday’s announcement from the Minister for Immigration, to improve temporary work visas for migrant workers, provides some positive changes but more detail is needed. The Council of Trade Unions fundamentally supports the principle of making ...
FIRST Union today welcomed Westpac’s public admission of the significant gender pay gap in its workforce and reiterated its call for employers to work with unions to close this disparity, arguing that this work must begin at the bottom of the pay ...
Changes to the work visa system announced by the Minister of Immigration are not all positive for employers or migrants, comments Ms June Ranson, chair of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) , a leading voice in the ...
The Dairy Workers Union (DWU) has welcomed the announcement from dairy company, Synlait, that they will be boosting parental leave entitlements significantly for working parents. ...
In June, the Children’s Commissioner announced a thematic review into Oranga Tamariki’s policies, processes and practice relating to care and protection issues for tamariki Māori aged 0-3 months. Today the Children’s Commissioner has released the full ...
“Closing the Gap” Tauranga, one of the area groups of Income Equality Aotearoa NZ Inc., has surveyed all candidates in the three local body elections to discover attitudes to some basic issues of the Western Bay region. We believe that this is ...
In response to DairyNZ's attempt to dismiss an economic report that highlighted dairy's role in the New Zealand economy is only three per cent of GDP, Fish & Game New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Taylor says: "If DairyNZ wishes to reject a report ...
Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has successfully guided the mana whenua of lhumaatao to reach a consensus on the future of their whenua. ...
Two activists disguised as shareholders interrupted the AGM of a gold mining company in central Auckland this morning to inform shareholders their plans to mine for gold in conservation estate in the Karangahake Gorge were unwelcome. ...
The Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) has been labelled ‘NATO’ (no action, talk only) when it comes to child mental health, with just 0.6 full time staff (24 hours per week) for inpatient child psychology and just 0.8 full time staff ...
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL has awarded three New Zealand climate youth groups with its Ambassador of Conscience award, its highest recognition for human rights work, previously given to the likes of Nelson Mandela, Ai Weiwei and Malala Yousafzai. ...
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union , in partnership with the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance , has today published this year's Ratepayers' Report – online local government league tables – at www.ratepayersreport.nz . ...
NZUS Council executive director Jordan Small welcomes the news New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will meet with US President Donald Trump in New York next week. ...
The recent NZIER report trivialises the significant role the dairy sector plays in New Zealand’s economy – and fails to look at the specifics of the Government’s freshwater package, according to DairyNZ. DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said ...
This week, the New Zealand Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will jointly host a seminar on tackling the global spread of illicit weapons. ...
By Michael Andrew Social media and tech industries have been replicating the ugliest aspects of capitalism from the 1800s, according to an AUT computer science lecturer. Associate Professor Tony Clear says that social media and tech executives are taking advantage of unregulated markets in a similar way as wealthy ...
Covering Climate Now: There’s a range of dairy-free ice creams available these days, but it’s a fair bet none will be as delicious – or satisfying – as making your own. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!If the latest stats ...
Covering Climate Action: Ahead of the UN’s Climate Action Summit, artist Joseph Michael and composer Rhian Sheehan teamed up to create Voices For The Future, a 30-minute installation projected onto the UN buildings.The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!Joseph Michael is ...
New Zealand banning Huawei’s 5G network equipment won’t impact you nearly as much as the US’s recent moves against Huawei phones, writes Henry Burrell. Twenty years ago, you would have shown off your flash new Ericsson or Nokia. How times change. Now, those two entities exist only to provide mobile network ...
Op-Ed by Kaveh Zahedi, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)Kaveh Zahedi is Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).In less than ten days world leaders will be ...
Grant McDougall reviews Kilgour’s new solo album, Bobbie’s A Girl, which sees him reflecting on the deaths of his friend and former bandmate, Peter Gutteridge and his own mother, Helen Kilgour. There is a passage in Shayne Carter’s excellent recent autobiography, Dead People I Have Known, in which he describes ...
New Zealand painter-poet Gregory O’Brien has just published a new collection of essays and art; pitched as a “field notebook … my whale survey”, Always Song in the Water drifts from his own front lawn in Hataitai, up to Northland and way, way across the Pacific. It’s the sort of ...
Ruby Porterlooks into New Zealand’s future when the sea level rises 10, 25 and 80 metres, and finds out how much of Auckland will be left.I grew up in Ponsonby, but the only bay I knew around here was Cox’s. It’s fed by a creek which was once a mahinga ...
Opening up a skid pad, create more housing for single people and make the central city dog friendly: policies from Christchurch's lesser-known mayoral candidates. ...
Josie Adams, Hayden Donnell, and Alice Webb-Liddall read thousands of policy statements to find the climate change deniers, fudgers, prevaricators (and believers) running in our local elections.The Spinoff local election coverage is made possible thanks to The SpinoffMembers. For more about becoming a member and supporting The Spinoff’s journalism click here.One of the problems ...
The paintings of Colin McCahon convey dissonance and uncertainty, writes Shannon Te Ao. So what does this say about us? And why are we maintaining this Pākehā male narrative at the expense of more inclusive representation?Colin McCahon would have turned 100 on August the 1st. If you keep one eye ...
Amanda Thompson spends a day with the New Zealand men’s roller derby squad as they prepare for next year’s world champs in the US.Let’s play a word game. Let’s list some contact sports and the top teams in those codes.Say rugby. Are you thinking about the All Blacks yet? What ...
Covering Climate Now:Dietary Requirements is The Spinoff’s monthly podcast in which we eat, drink and talk about it too, with special thanks to Freedom Farms. This month, we go crazy for crickets in a climate week special.The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. ...
To mark International Day of Peace, Dr Rebecca Dudley of the New Zealand Red Cross explores the role that New Zealanders play in the global story of war and peace. Personal stories about war almost always begin with a memory.A humid afternoon in South Sudan.A calm Wednesday evening in Beirut.A bustling ...
The history of tattoo art in Japan is deep-rooted and complex – and so is the cultural aversion to tattooed bodies, explains Brian Ashcraft, the author of a book on subject.Tonight, when the All Blacks take the field, they’ll be covering up. In order not to run afoul of Japanese ...
Covering Climate Now: Saying climate change is important is one thing. So why are we so incapable of having a real conversation about what actually addressing it will mean? Sam McGlennon investigates. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!Up until a week ago, ...
"This is what Wellington boy said, after he finished his quick and bloody deed. You know what your problem is? Once a slut, always a slut": a short story by Auckland writer Eileen Merriman. ...
Michael Mann, a climatologist and famous press critic, talks to the Columbia Journalism Review about the dangers of both understating and overstating the dangers of climate change. ...
Ahead of the All Blacks first game Trevor McKewen makes some his fanciful, fraught and some hopefully on-point predictions for the Rugby World Cup.Can you take one for the team? Could you cope with the All Blacks coming up short in achieving an unprecedented third straight World Cup if it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra [embedded content]University of Canberra Deputy Vice-Chancellor Leigh Sullivan discusses Scott Morrison’s new family law inquiry with Michelle Grattan. They also speak of the developments in the Tamil family from Biloela’s case, and the UN barring ...
Analysis - Jacinda Ardern heads for the UN as the sexual assault scandal rumbles on at home, and Simon Bridges says he isn't going to ease off his personal attacks on the PM. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dries Verstraete, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Design and Propulsion, University of Sydney CC BY-NDClimate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d ...
In this episode of our new tarot reading show Wild Card, The Spinoff’s resident psychic divines the outcome of the All Blacks’ opening match against the Springboks on Saturday.In the first and potentially only episode of Wild Card, we have a focus on sport. The Spinoff’s psychic-in-residence, Jo Sees, specialises ...
Recently-retired Sky TV chief executive John Fellet talks to Newsroom business editor Nikki Mandow about baseball, media, goldfish, accountancy - and more baseball. ...
The Real Pod assembles to dissect the week in reality television and real life, with special thanks to Nando’s.With Duncan enjoying a MAFS-style beach holiday in Bali, Alex and Jane are left to cover another crazy week in reality television. Shannon Ryan has gone full beast-mode in Celebrity Treasure Island, Married ...
Dr Bryce Edwards“Diversity” is a central theme of the current local government elections – with the common criticism that incumbent politicians are generally too “stale, male, and pale” (or variations on that). Numerous commentators and candidates have lamented the lack of women, ethnic minorities, and youth in local government. ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Climate change, environment Paul Gorman (Stuff): How would you spend an unlimited war chest for ...
A review into the Ministry for Culture and Heritage will look into the relationship between a staffer and the external developer responsible for a massive data breach. ...
Covering Climate Now: The Spinoff crew who took on climate change with a vegan diet for the week reflect on the highs, the lows, the pies and the fries. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!As I write, I’m tucking into ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Crisp, Professorial Fellow, Dianoia Institute of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University As world chiefs and youth leaders gather in New York at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, many of us as individuals are feeling powerless and overwhelmed. Making big personal changes ...
The head of one of the country's biggest news media firms is the latest subject of criticism for darkening his face at a staff party he attended dressed as US basketballer Lamar Odom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Coral Gartner, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland Health authorities in the United States are investigating 530 cases of lung illness, including seven deaths, reportedly connected to vaping. Some of these patients have been diagnosed with lung inflammation ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (Chatto & Windus, $48)Obvs. (Read our review by Pip Adam here)2 Three ...
When comedy documentary Funny As was made, a lot of interviews got left on the cutting room floor which NZ On Screen quickly picked up. Here are some of our favourites.We’re a pretty funny bunch us Kiwis. Trapped on a tiny island at the end of the earth it appears ...
Auckland rapper JessB has just released a new EP and wraps up a national mini-tour tonight in her home town. Jogai Bhatt talked to her about her world travels, performing at Ihumātao, and how her community and her music intersect.It’s only been two years since JessB entered the public radar ...
A new poem by Waiheke poet Rata Gordon.PacingA deep bow to NerudaIt so happens I am sick of being a woman. It happens that I walk into BP stations and supermarkets greasy, swollen, like a cow made of soap, losing my way in a field of placentas and pesticides.The smell ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda Gardiner, Lecturer, Edith Cowan University In August, a 24-year-old woman appeared before the Western Australian District Court after pleading guilty to concealing the birth of her newborn baby in 2018. The charge of concealment of birth refers to hiding the dead ...
Voting papers are being sent out today, and lots of people say they won’t fill them out because they don’t know anything about the candidates. Respected website ‘The Spinoff’ is trying to fix that through its Policy Local tool. But it’s not the only one. Catherine Jeffcoat talks to the ...
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by literary editor Steve Braunias ...
Writer and cannabis legalisation expert Russell Brown watched episode two of Patrick Gower on Weed, and found it highly entertaining but dangerously light on facts. Patrick Gower is good value when he’s high. In the second part of his documentary Patrick Gower on Weed, he does what you’d expect in a ...
Sydney shock-jock Alan Jones has written to Jacinda Ardern saying he didn't intend any violence towards her when he said on air that Australia's Prime Minister should "shove a sock down [her] throat". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caio Seguin, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne Brain regions exchange information by sending and receiving signals through a network of nerve connections. This exchange is crucial to all aspects of the brain’s functioning, including how we experience the world, form and retrieve ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miranda Kaye, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney Over the next 12 months, a joint parliamentary committee will examine Australia’s family law system. It will be led by conservative Liberal MP Kevin Andrews and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Barbara Allen, Senior Lecturer in Public Management, Victoria University of Wellington This story is part of Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story. For three years in a row, the ...
Open mike 26/08/2014 
Open mike is your post.
Before Jacingrant There Was Gracinda: Grant Robertson and his 2014 running mate, Jacinda Ardern. She stood at his side: loyal and obliging, as she had ever been. The media dubbed this duo “Gracinda” – a sort of political “Brangelina”. The other young people who worked alongside Robertson were also ambitious ...3 hours ago
. . Just when you thought Simon Bridges couldn’t sink any lower – he has. After the March 15th Christchurch terror attack, the (current) Leader of the National Party issued strong committments to support urgently needed gun law reform; “We will be ready and prepared to be constructive and to ...1 day ago
We all know that bad parents simply don’t care about their children’s education. Most truants have loser parents, and grow up to be involved with crime, or in low paid employment usually like their parents. The nonsense so-called “climate strike” coming up will be attended mostly by the least intelligent ...2 days ago
Today is the first day of the global climate strike. Led by schoolkids, people all around the world are going to protest to demand action on climate change. New Zealand isn't doing it till next Friday (join us!), but if you want to get active early, there's plenty to do ...2 days ago
To Protect and Serve: When the Prime Minister finds herself enmeshed in the coils of a full-blown political scandal, her colleagues and party comrades have only one priority: to release her as swiftly – and with as little lasting injury – as possible. Is this what Jacinda Ardern’s colleagues and ...2 days ago
When military leaders cover up and lie to elected civilian authorities, the foundation of democratic civil-military relations is undermined because it is those authorities who are entrusted to hold the military accountable to the public that they mutually serve. But this is only true if civilian political authorities take their ...2 days ago
by Daphna Whitmore The long years of Netanyahu’s reign are drawing to an end. For years he has epitomized reactionary zionism as he oversaw hundreds of thousands of Jewish settlers seize land in the West Bank. There are now 700,000 settlers, putting an end to the myth that Israel was ...2 days ago
BP, Z and Mobil all insist that petrol price hikes are temporary, “in a very literal sense.” The nation’s major petrol providers are trying to allay customer fears over prices, promising that they’ll move to lower them again “immediately” when the Middle East is returned to its formerly peaceful state. ...3 days ago
South African coach Rassie Erasmus says he has no idea what they’re going to do about the boat. In a highly anticipated press conference this afternoon, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has finally unveiled the team’s boat for its Rugby World Cup 2019 campaign. In a press conference that went ...3 days ago
Get Back Jojo! The elation in Mayor Phil Goff’s camp may be easily imagined as they watched social media light up in indignation at challenger John Tamihere’s "Sieg Heil to that" quip. Just when JT’s notoriously right-wing, sexist and homophobic stains were beginning to fade back into his ‘colourful’ past, ...3 days ago
Patrick Gower is good value when he's high. Not that I've ever, you know, got stoned with him. But in the second part of his documentary Patrick Gower on Weed, he does what you'd expect in a modern weed documentary and immerses himself – first with a doctor, then a ...4 days ago
We surveyed candidates on their attitudes to issues facing the Western Bay Region, find out what they think: “Closing the Gap” Tauranga, one of the area groups of Income Equality Aotearoa NZ Inc., has surveyed all candidates in the three local body elections to discover attitudes to some basic issues ...4 days ago
Why is New Zealand climate change policy so crap? The Herald this morning has a long article on the twists and turns of climate change policy in New Zealand [paywalled / depaywall script], which shows where we've been. The short version is that the government first began worrying about this ...4 days ago
The All Blacks have been, for more than a century, arguably the most successful International sports team in the world. But they are more than that; even for those Kiwis who are immune to the charms of rugby (and there are more than a few), the All Blacks are ambassadors ...4 days ago
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Dangerous Foes: For those readers of Bowalley Road who feel disposed to dismiss any prospect of an Israeli destabilisation of New Zealand politics, the example of the United Kingdom repays close attention. Ever since the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the British Labour Party, the Israelis have sanctioned, funded and ...6 days ago
Make It 16, the youth-led campaign to lower New Zealand's voting age, is holding an official campaign launch at Parliament this Friday from 16:30. If you'd like to attend, you can register using EventBrite here. ...6 days ago
by Don Franks It was a lovely sunny Wellington afternoon with blue skies above the beaches. In Courtenay Place, political activists packed out a stuffy upstairs room for an important meeting. The assembled pacifists, anarchists, communists and independent young radicals of Peace Action Wellington felt the need for a mission ...6 days ago
From the Wall Street Journal:Inside a room of the ornately decorated Hotel du Palais during last month’s Group of Seven summit in Biarritz, France, President Trump awaited a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi. Mr. Trump looked over a gathering of American and Egyptian officials and called out in ...1 week ago
Those close to the Police Minister believe the initiative may be the result of Nash “seeing a great deal” on AliExpress. In a move that comes seemingly out of nowhere, Police Minister Stuart Nash announced this afternoon that he expects all frontline staff to don bearskin hats, famously worn by ...1 week ago
Moving And Shaking: There was a time when people spoke matter-of-factly about the “labour movement” – a political phenomenon understood to embrace much more than the Labour Party. Included within the term’s definition was the whole trade union movement – many of whose members looked upon the Labour Party as ...1 week ago
By Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern I am every bit as angry as you are. I am every bit as disappointed as you must be. The people with power, oversight and the ability to do something about these processes within the Labour Party should be ashamed. Whoever those people are, I ...1 week ago
Two-Faced? Labour insiders' commitment to the neoliberal status quo puts them at odds with their party’s membership; its trade union affiliates; and a majority of Labour voters, but this only serves to strengthen the perception they have of themselves as a special elite. Among the lesser breeds, they’ll talk up a ...1 week ago
By Simon Bridges. The following is a press release from the office of Simon Bridges, leader of The National Party. Key ora, New Zealand. Happy Maori Language Week. Look, I’m writing to you today because I want to clear something up. There’s been a lot of kerfuffle around some things ...2 weeks ago
Dr. Christopher Labos and Jonathan Jarry discuss the recent Canadian fluoride/IQ research. They provide an expert analysis of the paper and its problems. Click on image to go to podcast. The critical debate about the recent ... 2 weeks ago
An ambitious plan to fly to Los Angeles petered out into a brief sight-seeing trip and a desire to return home and get some sleep before work tomorrow. Air New Zealand has confirmed a flight to Los Angeles last night was turned back about a quarter of the way into ...2 weeks ago
There appears to be consensus – by omission – that the concept of indigenous futures should be accepted at face value. So I scavenged the internet to see if I could locate an academic descriptor or a framework around how we think about it as a concept, and whether it ...2 weeks ago
Here’s another novelty chocolate to shove in your gob, New Zealand Cadbury could be seeking to make itself great again with a rumoured new release: Pineapple Trumps, a spin on its classic chocolate-encased pineapple treat and do-it-yourself tooth remover. The global confectionery manufacturer and bumbling “before” character in an infomercial, ...2 weeks ago
Kia ora, Aotearoa. It’s that magical time of year. Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. In English, the week that frightens talk radio. As you probably know by now, all your favourite media outlets are participating, some more successfully than others. Stuff has changed its name to Puna for the ...2 weeks ago
On Newshub Nation: Simon Shepherd Interviews The New Zealand Initiative's Executive Director Oliver Hartwich ...1 day ago
By Michael Andrew Social media and tech industries have been replicating the ugliest aspects of capitalism from the 1800s, according to an AUT computer science lecturer. Associate Professor Tony Clear says that social media and tech executives are taking advantage of unregulated markets in a similar way as wealthy ...3 hours ago
Covering Climate Now: There’s a range of dairy-free ice creams available these days, but it’s a fair bet none will be as delicious – or satisfying – as making your own. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!If the latest stats ...4 hours ago
Covering Climate Action: Ahead of the UN’s Climate Action Summit, artist Joseph Michael and composer Rhian Sheehan teamed up to create Voices For The Future, a 30-minute installation projected onto the UN buildings.The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!Joseph Michael is ...4 hours ago
New Zealand banning Huawei’s 5G network equipment won’t impact you nearly as much as the US’s recent moves against Huawei phones, writes Henry Burrell. Twenty years ago, you would have shown off your flash new Ericsson or Nokia. How times change. Now, those two entities exist only to provide mobile network ...5 hours ago
Op-Ed by Kaveh Zahedi, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
Grant McDougall reviews Kilgour’s new solo album, Bobbie’s A Girl, which sees him reflecting on the deaths of his friend and former bandmate, Peter Gutteridge and his own mother, Helen Kilgour. There is a passage in Shayne Carter’s excellent recent autobiography, Dead People I Have Known, in which he describes ...7 hours ago
New Zealand painter-poet Gregory O’Brien has just published a new collection of essays and art; pitched as a “field notebook … my whale survey”, Always Song in the Water drifts from his own front lawn in Hataitai, up to Northland and way, way across the Pacific. It’s the sort of ...7 hours ago
Ruby Porter looks into New Zealand’s future when the sea level rises 10, 25 and 80 metres, and finds out how much of Auckland will be left.I grew up in Ponsonby, but the only bay I knew around here was Cox’s. It’s fed by a creek which was once a mahinga ...8 hours ago
Opening up a skid pad, create more housing for single people and make the central city dog friendly: policies from Christchurch's lesser-known mayoral candidates. ...15 hours ago
The paintings of Colin McCahon convey dissonance and uncertainty, writes Shannon Te Ao. So what does this say about us? And why are we maintaining this Pākehā male narrative at the expense of more inclusive representation?Colin McCahon would have turned 100 on August the 1st. If you keep one eye ...1 day ago
Amanda Thompson spends a day with the New Zealand men’s roller derby squad as they prepare for next year’s world champs in the US.Let’s play a word game. Let’s list some contact sports and the top teams in those codes.Say rugby. Are you thinking about the All Blacks yet? What ...1 day ago
To mark International Day of Peace, Dr Rebecca Dudley of the New Zealand Red Cross explores the role that New Zealanders play in the global story of war and peace. Personal stories about war almost always begin with a memory.A humid afternoon in South Sudan.A calm Wednesday evening in Beirut.A bustling ...1 day ago
The history of tattoo art in Japan is deep-rooted and complex – and so is the cultural aversion to tattooed bodies, explains Brian Ashcraft, the author of a book on subject.Tonight, when the All Blacks take the field, they’ll be covering up. In order not to run afoul of Japanese ...1 day ago
Covering Climate Now: Saying climate change is important is one thing. So why are we so incapable of having a real conversation about what actually addressing it will mean? Sam McGlennon investigates. The Spinoff’s participation in Covering Climate Now is made possible thanks to Spinoff Members. Join us here!Up until a week ago, ...1 day ago
Ahead of the All Blacks first game Trevor McKewen makes some his fanciful, fraught and some hopefully on-point predictions for the Rugby World Cup.Can you take one for the team? Could you cope with the All Blacks coming up short in achieving an unprecedented third straight World Cup if it ...1 day ago
To tackle the crises of climate and unsustainability we need great cultural changes in civil society, business and politics. ...2 days ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra [embedded content]University of Canberra Deputy Vice-Chancellor Leigh Sullivan discusses Scott Morrison’s new family law inquiry with Michelle Grattan. They also speak of the developments in the Tamil family from Biloela’s case, and the UN barring ...2 days ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dries Verstraete, Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Design and Propulsion, University of Sydney CC BY-NDClimate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change. If you have a question you’d ...2 days ago
Recently-retired Sky TV chief executive John Fellet talks to Newsroom business editor Nikki Mandow about baseball, media, goldfish, accountancy - and more baseball. ...2 days ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Crisp, Professorial Fellow, Dianoia Institute of Philosophy, Australian Catholic University As world chiefs and youth leaders gather in New York at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, many of us as individuals are feeling powerless and overwhelmed. Making big personal changes ...2 days ago
The head of one of the country's biggest news media firms is the latest subject of criticism for darkening his face at a staff party he attended dressed as US basketballer Lamar Odom. ...2 days ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Coral Gartner, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland Health authorities in the United States are investigating 530 cases of lung illness, including seven deaths, reportedly connected to vaping. Some of these patients have been diagnosed with lung inflammation ...2 days ago
A congestion charge is needed to deter motorists from clogging central city districts at peak times, according to an economics consultancy. ...2 days ago
Jacinda Ardern confuses Japan with China - and she's not the only one with a case of political foot-in-mouth. ...2 days ago
Voting papers are being sent out today, and lots of people say they won’t fill them out because they don’t know anything about the candidates. Respected website ‘The Spinoff’ is trying to fix that through its Policy Local tool. But it’s not the only one. Catherine Jeffcoat talks to the ...2 days ago
This week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by literary editor Steve Braunias ...2 days ago
Writer and cannabis legalisation expert Russell Brown watched episode two of Patrick Gower on Weed, and found it highly entertaining but dangerously light on facts. Patrick Gower is good value when he’s high. In the second part of his documentary Patrick Gower on Weed, he does what you’d expect in a ...2 days ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caio Seguin, PhD candidate, University of Melbourne Brain regions exchange information by sending and receiving signals through a network of nerve connections. This exchange is crucial to all aspects of the brain’s functioning, including how we experience the world, form and retrieve ...2 days ago
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miranda Kaye, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney Over the next 12 months, a joint parliamentary committee will examine Australia’s family law system. It will be led by conservative Liberal MP Kevin Andrews and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. ...2 days ago
Bring it on soldier !
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11314137
“Mr Mitchell said the narrative in Dirty Politics was completely false, and he was considering legal action”.
Not a PS Staffer 9.3
26 October 2013 at 11:06 am
Mark Mitchell, MP for North Shore, is a former NZ Policeman who..
“launched an international business career which included the start-up of my own company specialising in hostage rescue, supply chain security and risk management. Working closely with the World Economic Forum, I helped to establish Logistic Emergency Response Teams…. ”
see http://www.markmitchell.co.nz/mark-mitchell-profile.html
Mitchell’s father-in-law Frank Gill was a National Party North Shore MP as well as being a minister and ambasador to Washington.
Mitchell is a well integrated into the National Party real power structures. Mitchell is also well integrated into the Special Services network, the Police and the Intelligence Services.
Mark Mitchell knew about the Len Brown affair because there was a professional project to displace Len that went beyond the Palino/Slater/Wewege amateurs.
Mark Mitchell’s father in law was a leery leech! Followed me around the Debating Chamber gallery many years ago. I was not impressed. Insisted on being called Air Commodore Gill. Struck me as lacking in any intellectual skills. Sounds like Mark Mitchell would have been a fine fit with his father-in-law.
I believe in Wellington they called the father in law , ‘Air corridor Gill’ aptly.
They did, and for good reason
Gill was unofficial leader of the morally conservative wing of the party during the Muldoon years.
Somebody should explain to him what discovery is
Beautiful Pete ! Mitchell probably reads “Discovery” as some sort of Remuera tractor.
Mitchell won’t sue Hager. This is just pre-relection deflection. There is nothing stopping him telling his lawyers to get cracking on it right now if he was serious. He is not serious, and like with Collins, this case will not see court.
There will, I suspect, be other cases that do see court. But not this one.
Hager has been careful to state things like
The emails show… And then tells you what the emails said.
u
As a staunch supporter of the Left, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the dangerous gaps in policy.
Last night I didn’t sleep a wink. Not one party I could call as being from the political Left (Parties that truly care what happens to people) had any mention of one of the most important details of Health and economic development policy on their websites. Over on the Right party sites, they are neck deep in satirical logical fallacies, it’s easy to tell what they really mean, but on the Left, nothing. How would a left coalition government help those in need of Cognitive Dissonance? It’s not 1968 anymore, telling people you’ll do your best if nothing comes up and to put their trust in Good Faith just doesn’t cut it.
You know what happened the other day? I went to find my car and there was this awful stink. It was so bad I thought I’d run over a hedgehog on the way into work. You know what it was? One of those Street Lifestylers wedged between my front bumper and the pipes running along the wall of the building. It was trying to keep warm no doubt. Well someone paid for that heat and he stole it. Why don’t they just hang out in cafes like everyone else if he’s that bad off. God, I hate people who don’t do what’s right. Had to get the parking attendant to roll it away. Reality is becoming so much more difficult to ignore under successive governments and ignoring my growing unease just isn’t on. The next Left government really needs to act.
Awful interview by Espiner on RNZ.
Proof the media will not discuss policies and usual wants to talk polls etc….
Now we’ve read Dirty Politics, we know the agenda.
Yep a shocker.
My only hope now – personal stuff from WhaleDump. The fight has to get dirty to drag them back in.
I just don’t know if personal stuff will have impact, or if it devalues the whole project. Hager’s been very careful to stick to the issues which show how the right has been manipulating the media and attacking its opponents, and we’ve already seen blowback like “well aren’t you doing exactly the same thing using hacked emails.”
If it gets personal it’s much, much easier for the right to brush it off by saying “see, the left are just as bad, this is politics as normal.”
given the nats current penchant for using tobacco companies to train some of its young candidates, whaledump on carrick gragam and slater might be edifying for some
@ tigger..
..i am wanting to see the extent/depth of the links with mainstream media..
..i intend to ask hager about that at his public meeting on wed nite..
(the other dump i want to see is the slater/ede one..
..that’s where it gets taken directly to key..)
Unbelievable! This no doubt was his attempt at “balance” after the roasting he gave the PM a week or so ago. But shouting 25% six times in a minute, and saying things like “I put it to you that nobody like you” is not the stuff of tough interviews – it is just a shallow and silly attack.
It’s a gotcha question. If Cunliffe answered “Sure, lots of people like me” he’d sound full of himself, if he said “Not enough like me” he’d sound hopeless. It’s like asking when someone stopped beating their wife.
I’m pretty sure that Espiner knows exactly what a loaded question is.
did he ask key if he was lying in 2011 or last week?
Espiner might but you certainly don’t Draco
I heard that also, quite disgusting. Espiner needs to be looking for another job. Something more suited to his abilities.
He has abilities????
I did think he could clean toilets but nah, that is an honest job – he wouldn’t be qualified.
Lots and lots of news articles on The Book today including these two
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10417726/The-hacker-revealed
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/25/dirty-politics-new-zealands-own-house-of-cards-is-collapsing
Thanks for the Guardian link. Interesting that the author says it has exposed in NZ, the way politics and the media play out across many countries.
QFT
And that, to, is something that the National Party and their sycophants don’t want people to consider. It’s why they parrot the line that things were stolen which is just more of the manipulation that Dirty Politics shows so well.
plus one
Author of the Guardian article is Antony Loewenstein – one of the Australian Jewish community’s leading and most trenchant critics of Israel. Wrote My Israel Question (an excellent analysis of, amongst other things, the Zionist/”Pro”-Israeli excesses of sections of the Aussie Jewish community – particularly its lobby-groups) and co-founded Independent Australian Jewish Voices. He’s paid a substantial personal price over the years for his courage and integrity.
+100…these decent people give us hope for humanity
Awww .. thx, the Stuff link has excellent info about Whaledump. So Rawshark it is then, and our hacker does seem to be a man. Interesting comment that his motive, when fully understood, will point directly at him, and only him.
It’s a must read for many here.
But OUCH ! comment from someone under the Guardian article ..
‘NZ is the new Uruguay – a once prosperous nation now increasingly a relatively impoverished but scenic backwater’ .
Yes Awww Thanks for the Guardian link. The writer says that the dirty tricks happen all round the world and this expose is very timely. Niky has reached the World. And John Key has plummeted to the bowels of the World.
Mother of dead west coaster Slater defamed said it was most likely one of his friends was most likely the hacker!
And she was going to sue Camoron Slater!
Any legal action against Slater is cause for celebration!
+100
Sue him for what?
Defamation hope his 3rd strike earns him some time behind bars!
For the 2x convicted crim!
Sorry but that wouldn’t run. At Common Law you can’t defame the dead as reputation is a personal right which can only be defended in person.
Didn’t he also abuse her?
…
All I’m aware of is the ‘feral’ comment about the dead man which has been reported in the press. I haven’t looked at Slater’s original remarks as I’d rather sort through used lavatory paper looking for re-usable sheets.
I’d think it unlikely, though. Establishing defamation is a pretty high bar. Frankly I doubt even Slater’s comment about Judd Hall as ‘feral’ would be legally defamatory in the way that, say, calling him a fraudster or paedophile would be.
Some folk might even regard it as complimentary.
(Sorry, reply to tricledrown below.)
“Some folk might even regard it as complimentary”
The woman herself, in the morning report interview said as much about the phrase “feral” and said that a lot of people on the coast were quite happy with such a description. I’m not sure whether she specifically included herself in the group but she didn’t seem to find it offensive.
Surprised me. I would have found it so.
Vinscreen Viper is their anything Slater can be charged with!
Now Key Can’t call this a left wing conspiracy theory anymore!
There was some speculation amongst a few of us last week about the identity of the hacker and thought it may be a classmate, friend or partner of Judd Hall’s – remember Nicky Hager said the motivation for the hacking wasn’t political.
Jo(e?) Hall, Judd’s Mum , said she hoped that Key would apologise for his connection with Slater when he visited the West Coast today. I think she might be mistaken, assuming that Key has some scruples.
Here’s the thing West Coast Tasman voters. In 2011 you gave your party vote to National, with National receiving the highest amount of party votes. On 20th September turn your backs on this party that has done nothing for you and whose leader stood by the one who mocked the death of one of your sons.
Make “zero party votes for National” your goal in 2014.
+100
Lest we forget, what this present NatACT government has done to us!!!
While much attention has recently been given to the nasty “black ops” activities by a blogger by the name of Cameron Slater (aka “Whaleoil”) and certain senior staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, same as by Judith Collins and a few others, we must not forget what else happened over recent years, and for what Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has been responsible for. Here is a selection of news and other sources re her nasty “welfare reforms” and her own hypocrisy:
“Why Paula Bennett Is Not Fit To Be A Minister”, BE Media, 29 July 2009
http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2009/07/why-paula-bennett-is-not-fit-to-be-a-minister/
“Some welfare reforms do breach rights, says Bennett”, NZ Herald, 25 March 2010:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10634153
“Social Development Minister Paula Bennett admits that part of her welfare reforms breach the Bill of Rights Act but says it would not bother most people.” “And Attorney-General Chris Finlayson denies he deliberately withheld his report advising that part of the Government’s welfare plans breach the Bill of Rights Act. He puts the delay in its presentation to Parliament as an “administrative error”.”
“Human Rights Commission comes out against Paula Bennett..”, Tumeke, 20 May 2010
http://tumeke.blogspot.co.nz/2010/05/human-rights-commission-comes-out.html
“OPEN LETTER TO: Hon Paula Bennett, Minister Of Social Development and Peseta-Sam Lotu-Liga”, CPAG, 12 April 2012
http://www.cpag.org.nz/news/open-letter-to-paula-bennett-peseta-sam-lotu/
Paula Bennett on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Bennett
“In July 2009, Bennett released the benefit details of two beneficiaries, Natasha Fuller and Jennifer Johnston, who had criticised the Government’s policy of getting rid of the Training Initiative Allowance (TIA). She said she believed she had “implied consent” for the release of the information.” “There has also been considerable criticism of Bennett for abolishing the TIA. Both Fuller and Labour MP Charles Chauvel said that they would make complaints to the privacy commissioner and Schroff, respectively.”
“The Privacy Commission investigated Bennett’s actions after receiving a complaint. In late 2010, Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff closed her investigation into the privacy complaint and referred the matter to the Director of Human Rights Proceedings for the Human Rights Commission, Robert Hesketh. On 15 August 2012, Hesketh announced the resolution of the complaint under the Privacy Act against Bennett, saying, “On the basis of the Minister’s letter to me, I have agreed to close my file. The matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.”[30] In her letter to Hesketh, Bennett wrote: “I have on previous occasions expressed to you through my counsel and to Ms Fuller, when I met with her in person, my regret at the personal cost that this incident has caused Ms Fuller. The purpose of this letter is to formally convey that.”
“As you know, I took the view that it was appropriate for me to respond to some of Ms Fuller’s comments in order to provide what I considered to be information relevant to the public debate that was taking place at the time. I acknowledge that you consider that I was wrong to do so and that this resulted in a breach of Ms Fuller’s privacy.” “As you also know, I do not accept that view.”
Other reports:
“The Achilles Heel of National’s welfare reforms”, CPAG, 02 March 2012
http://www.cpag.org.nz/topics/social-security/
“Welfare group warns thousands will suffer after changes”, NZ Herald, 15 July 2013
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10898243
“Welfare now has health warning”, NZ Herald, 16 July 2013
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10898616
“Job hunting replaces focus on welfare benefits”, NZ Herald, 16 July 2013
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10898601
“Welfare Reform – New Zealand Association of Social Workers”, 19 July 2013
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1307/S00237/welfare-reform-new-zealand-association-of-social-workers.htm
Some of the results we know about:
“Record numbers struggling to make ends meet”, 04 Nov. 2013
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=34699
“Don’t copy our welfare cuts, New Zealand experts warn Australia”, The Guardian, 03 June 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/03/dont-copy-our-welfare-cuts-new-zealand-experts-warn-australia
“How is Government evaluating its welfare reforms, and why aren’t we allowed to know?”, M. Fletcher, Public Address, 29 June 2014
http://publicaddress.net/speaker/how-is-government-evaluating-its-welfare/
VOTE WISELY on 20 September 2014!
@ xtasy….which Left party are you voting for ?…and why?…because this may affect my vote ie I may vote the way you suggest
Chooky, I am most likely to give the Greens my party vote, although I cannot agree with some of their policies. They do though seem to offer the best deal to those dependent on WINZ, and actually want to bring in a kind of universal basic income, by replacing the present Social Security Act with new law. That basic income would be topped up, and it seems they are prepared to ensure people get enough to live from, whether they care for children, are disabled, studying or whatever else.
See their policy:
https://home.greens.org.nz/
https://home.greens.org.nz/policy/income-support-policy
https://home.greens.org.nz/policylist
https://home.greens.org.nz/policysummary/disability-policy-summary
Like with all parties, they list much aspirational stuff, but I trust them more than Labour, certainly when it comes to social security. Question will be how much they can push for when negotiating with Labour to form a government, but I have reservations re Internet Mana, as they will most likely not be such an important player, and may not even be needed for a government. Also I have some concerns about Dotcom’s involvement, and how many in the public perceive them.
Labour have got some interesting social policy too now, but they really do much more for those able to work, and in some ways they seem only moderately caring for the unemployed sick and disabled. Work is their mantra for many social ills, a bit like the National Party, just not as unfair and harsh.
But take a look at all left of centre parties’ policies, I just stated my thoughts.
@xtasy…thanks!….that is good to hear about the Greens because i was going to Party vote for them anyway …you just confirm my intended vote ..I have a brother with a handicap and who is on a disability benefit….so i will make sure that he knows your arguments and research too… Generally he votes Labour…but he may like to consider the Greens this time.
Maybe you could turn this into a Post?….so a lot more people get to see your research, arguments and hear your perspective on this very important party policy issue.
I am not going to turn stuff into a post, although this “comment” above is the size of one. Over the coming days and weeks I will present a bit more of stuff that I have saved, that I can find by Google search, and that will remind people of what the Nats under Key and Bennett have done to harm and harass so many.
I will also endeavour to present a bit more on Dr Bratt and so forth. A few good comments on Open Mike will be read by many, I am sure.
well i think many beneficiaries and those who support them do need some guidance on which parties have the BEST policies for them and why….or at least a personal perspective from the coal face to spark off their thinking on which party to vote for
….you could always maybe circulate it in a post on the Daily Blog as well?
Just placed a reserve on Dirty Politics at the library. I am number 63 in the queue and there are 10 copies available for loan….so much for the public not being interested.
I ordered it from my library and was no. 320 in the queue. Let’s hope a lot of undecided voters read the book and vote accordingly.
you can maybe ask on here for a loan copy from someone .. I can’t help as I have the kindle version on my computer. but asking is worth a try. (And to maintain mutual anonymity, make a new gmail account and post it for someone to contact you. I did it when book first came out, and had it all arranged .. but then ebook was available.)
#320 is a long way down and the election is close !
Good idea yeshe. We could have a Standardista Dirty Politics library. I’m in Wellington and more than happy to lend my copy. This book is essential reading for all NZer’s of any political colour. (principled National voters would be disgusted at the depths their party has sunk to)
I can’t afford to buy books these days (my days collecting of books came to an abrupt end when financial circumstances changed!) but used the grocery money to get my copy. Well worth having baked beans on toast two meals in a row as a consequence!
😀 @rosie
and did you see the Stuff link at #5 ? most interesting indeed from the whaledump hacker.
Yes! Rawshark! So just playing catch up, the hacker and whaledump are the same person?
Great Guardian article too, from Awww’s link.
maybe not the same person, but same intent !! And more ….
I see the Pike River families are planning a silent protest at Key this afternoon with Jo Hall ( Judd’s mother) hopeful of an apology from Key .. well, at least she’s going to make it plain it is what she expects.
(oops .. just saw your previous post on same subject, sorry)
Happy to loan out my copy too.
Any thoughts how we could make this work? I am in Wellington.
Anyone who would like to read it, message me and maybe we can arrange a meeting point.
What I did last week — I created a new gmail account, with a family name .. then I posted that email addy on here for the poster to contact me, which he did. I don’t know if his name was real or not ! Good luck …
How about creating Standardista Virtual Library Hubs? That way we can get copies to each other, and save money by minimising on the postage.
yes it was
😀 thanks again …
I’d suggest, if it were ok with Lynn, that if a person requested to borrow a book, that Lynn could forward the “issuer’s” email address to the “borrower”. This would perhaps mean there would a be a list on this site with commenters/issuers and their areas, that borrowers could select from. Borrower x see’s that issuer y in Tauranga has a copy of The Book they can lend. They get in touch via email and arrange collection or postage.
There needs to be an element of trust in doing this, but I feel more comfortable with option than yeshe’s one below. (Could you get spammed by crazies?)
Depends on whether Lynn and or authors have the time to muck around supplying emails.
There is a problem with the privacy policy. I will have a look around for a private messaging facility for the site.
Oh yes, I see. Thank you.
much better than my idea which worked solely as a one off ! Thanks Lynn.
or you could just strip out the DRM form a purchased copy from amazon and share that, takes less than 3 minutes to do. After all, information should be free and copyright is an outdated concept enforced by the fascist lackeys of corporates. If it wasn’t against the law (and I respect the property rights of the Standard), I’d a post a link to it here. Wouldn’t surprise me however if its not already on Mega.
nadis, nadis, nadis. oh dear.
“or you could just strip out the DRM form a purchased copy from amazon and share that, takes less than 3 minutes to do.”
How? I had a look online simply so I could open the book in something other than kindle which doesn’t support page numbering (doh!). The couple of online and download apps I tried couldn’t rip the book.
I have a copy for loan
I have said I would never again post on TS, but in this case, I’m willing to make an exception. I will lend my copy. Contact me at “borrowdp [at] hmamail.com”
Maybe you can borrow key’s copy?
well it would be brand new and untouched by human hand !!
How long does your library loan books for? I would assume that it is a week so only 3 more people will get each book before the election.
I imagine the number on the list will go to zero on 21 September.
Didn’t hear it but heard my husband abusing the radio when he heard it. Didn’t blame him when he told me about guyons incisive, in depth interview of Cumliffe. I think DC should just send ‘The Office’ next time. Trying to get a decent interview from guyon is just a waste of time for David. Who says to ANYONE “I put it to you that nobody likes you” Well guyon, you are universally disliked , you could be better but you choose daily to show yourself up as a biased, boring lazy interviewer. And your voice is barely distinguishable from Susie’s
Nothing terribly surprises me anymore, but I have to admit that the NZ Herald is challenging that.
Today in the Herald there’s two puff pieces on National and none on Labour. Worse we get this in one of the puff pieces on National;
That’s the bit that everybody sees on the website.
The other puff piece, and the bit that everybody sees is;
Labour’s budget is presented as an ‘alternative’ budget.
There’s a story in the Money section titled;
I cannot see how it is possible to maintain a democracy under these conditions.
“I cannot see how it is possible to maintain a democracy under these conditions.”
Only the illusion of democracy remains, soon as you understand that it makes sense.
+1
The 4th Labour government sold our democracy out to neo-liberalism and a return to feudalism.
Modern democracy,is just the freedom to do as you are told.re read (Secrets,Lies and Democracy)Noam Chomsky
I’ll loan a copy to the standard library.
do i have to say/point out again what a rightwing-toad/dweeb rawdon christie is..?
Rawdie’s bloody thick as well. Just not up to it. Watch the uneasy pause, the shamble, the momentary ‘just sucked a lemon’ mouth when he gets a challenging response to whatever facile question/assertion he’s put/made.
Followed by eyes averted, semi-smile recovery. “W-e-e-l-l-l-l……nevertheless……”
he’s like that person who stands right behind the bully…
..remove the bully..he squeals and runs away…
Anyone catch that clip on telly this weekend where Slater said he would be involved in politics long after Key had left the scene?
And in a moment of supreme zen weirdness he said he had “met and dealt with” every PM from Muldoon onward?
How old is he? 40? If so, he reckons he was dealing with Muldoon when he was 10, and with Lange when he was 11. And he goes on telly and squints into the camera and says this as if it’s real.
Jesus, this is the fucking spoon Key got to help him run the country.
Slater is 43.
Some bold claims there at the link. Well, I guess he never had to put them into practice because he wasn’t voted in.
Bit rich, eh? Lied about his address, too.
“And in a moment of supreme zen weirdness he said he had “met and dealt with” every PM from Muldoon onward?”
He may not referring to dealing PM’s while they were still in office. Which would still probably discount Muldoon.
I don’t doubt that a few important figures patted him on the head as a child, but “dealt with”, that’s just lolzworthy.
He deals with Key. We know this to be true.
I suspect he has had dealings with Shipley, as she is an important part of the cartel that Key and Collins are involved in. All post-PM though.
I can’t think of any other PM who would be likely to give him the time of day, in or out of office.
Remember his father was the president of the National party for years so dinner party’s bbq’s etc no doubt Camoron would have met and been influenced by National Party insiders he is a credit to all of them!
Prior to becoming the Nat Party president, he was the chairman of the all important Auckland National Division going back to the 1970s. Wee Cameron would have been the recipient of a lot of head patting from National Party senior figures as he grew up. Perhaps his head sustained a bit of damage in the process.
Doesn’t take Guyon long to revert to type, viz. snooty little clipped-tones toff, barely suppressing the alter ego of ‘Headmaster GodKey’ sans smirk lurking within. Michelle-Boag-on-steroids Ferguson equally unfit for RNZ Morning Report.
How unartful are these media lads and lassies when the only route to the guts of matters is their anger at being personally affronted ? As for example the “Is it OK ?” episode Guyon with TheGodKey last week.
no, Guyon is not ok, ever
never has been..
Still had my heart thumping that did. Is it ok? Is it ok? Is it ok?
25% 25% 25% 25% – not so much
An outstanding blog by Giovanni Tiso this morning.
I would have left a message congratulating him, but couldn’t figure out the new comments configuration on his site. So I’ll say it here: Bravo!
http://bat-bean-beam.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/the-jane-clifton-continuum.html
really..?..he is a defender of josie pagani..?
..you like that..?
Read it again.
no thanks..
You should.
/
Posted by Giovanni Tiso at 11:59 PM ShareThis
Labels: Interpolations, satire
Yes – quite subtle satire at that.
(Will confess to having to read it several times …)
Just shows how inured we are to these kinds of arguments.
My particular bugbear is the false equivalence arguments where some nobody getting kicked unconscious in a gutter equals one Person Who Matters feeling insulted by a criticism about their behaviour. And we see these kinds of false equivalences and unequal treatment according to status all the time in the media because the bias it reflects is so ingrained – in a large part by the media itself in an obscene vicious circle with public opinion.
A beneficiary is vilified for not being able to make ends meet on a benefit set at a rate which makes doing so impossible, while in the same issue of the paper a Remuera couple who lost money in a collapsed finance company gets a sympathy piece and their “give a little” page which is up to $50,000 of donations is advertised because they might have to sell their house and buy something more affordable.
And who has been deliberately creating and maintaining these circles?
I agree, and this election has shown up the assumptions associated with inequality like no other. A National Party ad that verges on self parody, and could almost double as an ad for a posh private school. The hounding and demeaning of every representative on the left, while the PM, who really is accountable, is allowed to alter the meaning of words, and refuse to answer questions with impunity. Debate seems to have descended to the level of sixth form bitchery with the “aspirational” dominating the common room and the remainder cast as flea-bags. I am all but waiting for some lip-glossed, right leaning, TV presenter to shout, “You can’t say that to me, because I’m a TV presenter and I’m beautiful!”
Most complete sardonic riff I’ve seen since dealing with a teenage daughter.
Excellent work Tiso.
just found this…it is very cool..!
..a simple online way to make yr own gifs..
..you just have to upload a pic..
..i am looking forward to some good key/slater ones from you all..
http://www.wired.com/2014/08/revist-link/
Dame Anne Salmond: Royal commission of inquiry needed to clean up NZ’s dirty politics.
.
The Dirty Politics saga cuts to the heart of political life in New Zealand. Over the past 10 years there has been an insidious shift in the way that government works, with increasingly autocratic, arrogant ministers taking away the levers of power from citizens and civil servants.
The independence of the civil service has been eroded, with ministers routinely interfering in operational decisions. Last year, the Law Society felt impelled to report to the United Nations that Parliament had been used to pass a succession of acts that strip away rights, freedoms and protections from citizens, in breach of the Bill of Rights. Ministerial accountability has become a farce.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11314367
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/60852283/French-government-resigns-PM-to-form-new-government
Centrist? Has the election already happened and Key been turfed out while I was in the shower?
You seem to have fallen for Whalesludge’s spin Puckish.
Oh please Keys center right at best (Labour-lite at worst)
Key is radical RWJN and what he really wants is a return to feudalism as proven by his sales of our assets against our will.
Lets see, John Key didn’t sell any assets as the controlling share is still held by the government whereas Labour sold 100% of the assets (and also a lot more then National ever did)
National strengthened the overseas investment rules (which were woeful under Labour) and yes more land was sold under Labour then has been sold under National
Also hes stated no more asset sales this term, its still legal to join a union and promoting free healthcare to under 13s
Yes hes a RWNJ and wants us to return to feudalism
Dear DTB and labour are going to sell housing nz land as part of kiwibuild. Funny how it is ok to sell nz state assets when we do it. A great opportunity lost as the land could be better used IMHO for new state houses. Then we have today in the herald 40m2 houses on 119m2 sections at a bargin $339k , is this what affordable housing has become we the voter should be demanding that state land esp within Auckland be used to build state houses, and also help to reduce the govt housing subsidy paid to land lords.
I don’t think it’s OK at all. I’m not impressed one bit by Labour’s housing policy. We need more state houses, and for many reasons. A good building program would provide training, employment, push prices down and have a follow on effect on private rents.
PR can’t tell what is right or wrong any more Bearded Git. He just makes assumptions and expects people to worship him.
Just capitalism, in general, collapsing.
And in a few weeks we’ll be able to say See, another conservative government down the toilet.
And Dirty Politics continues to erode National’s credibility here:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11314137
More than a third of voters may change their vote over Dirty Politics. Game changer.
“The shadow of ‘Dirty Politics’ still hangs over the campaign. John Key is not answering questions about the book on the trail anymore. He is trying to draw a line under it in the hope it has not damaged his and National’s position too badly. National’s internal polling is said to show the book’s revelations are not resonating with the public.
However, TVNZ’s Vote Compass survey found the book had affected 36% of the 13,913 voters who took the online poll, who said it may change their vote to varying degrees”
And on another issue National is on the wrong side of:
“A 3News Reid Research poll released last night showed 77% of voters believed there should be stricter controls on foreign ownership and 20% said there should not be stricter controls”
Read about both issues here:
http://www.interest.co.nz/news/71637/poll-shows-most-want-foreign-buying-limits-survey-finds-over-third-say-dirty-politics-wil
my favourite from the link .. thx BG .. good to be reminded this is all we need …
“The knife-edge nature of the electoral mathematics of MMP mean a loss of 2-3% support from National would be enough to put its re-election in doubt, and it is already going into the election with opinion poll support around 2-3% lower than in the lead-up to the 2011 election, which it won by less than 10,000 votes.”
And what a bloody costly 10,000 votes.
Key cannot blame it on left wing conspiracy theorists any more!
Cameron Slater and Conman Key have to take Personal Responsibility for their self made mess!
Key can’t even blame dotcom!
Key is now trying to mumble his way round the massive mess of his own creation!
Key sounds like a lying little school boy!
I see DPF is having a wee cry about nasty song written about his idol.
Diddums.
If you declare a war on the poor this is what you should expect to receive.
Which particular song? There’s quite a few anti Key songs!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10422676/Song-threatens-to-kill-Key
Whoa! Didn’t know this one. There’s no mincing of words there. A bit edgy, I must admit but then again they weren’t” listened to” in 2011 (Listen to us) so the resentment edged up another notch. What does Farrar expect, the boys choir praising Key?
Excellent bass line. Quite uncomfortable with the threatening reference to fucking Key’s daughter though.
http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/8630/Listen-Peace—Kill-The-PM.utr
Does that mean you are comfortable with the threatening reference to killing him? Political leanings aside, surely this is nothing but unacceptable?
It’s a bit shocking Peter but then again a) it’s not going to happen b)I’ve listened to music all my life so am familiar with violent anti authority expressions and c) this view sums up my sentiments perfectly:
“………….. I don’t have to like it. I understand why its happening. When your suppress people and their voice it breaks through and it is not pretty as it would have been if you let them have a say in the first place.”
My main concern is with Key’s daughter being threatened. She has nothing to do with the running of the country and the threat sounds rather rapey to me. Myself I don’t like or dislike the lyrics (but like the melody) but I wouldn’t play it when people are around at my house, even guests that feel just as angry towards Key as @peace do.
I’ve listened a few times, and I agree Rosie that bit about Key’s daughter shocked me. Then listening through a few times, I think it’s a bragging attempt, and a pick up line – sad I know. It’s not that unusual for hip-hop artist – to do these brags. I think they deliberately made this section of the song shocking, but he does a vocal twist at end – to introduce himself and make it apparent who he talking to.
That said, they use shock a lot in their songs, and sexist language. Here for the other tunes.
http://www.atpeace.co.nz/#hear
@peace comment on Facebook.
*Now that I have your attention, may I remind you that
130,000 ELIGIBLE PEOPLE UNDER 25 HAVE NOT YET ENROLLED.
The current PM does not care about these people. He does not care about the growing gap between the rich and the poor in our country. He does not care about the native people of our country. He does not care about the planet we depend upon to survive, the living organism that we as humans are a functioning part of. He does not care about the right we should all have to an education. He only cares about him and his friends.
I do not want to literally kill this man. I do not wish to have sexual relations with anybody related to him. Let’s not pretend a silly little song ever changed anything. Last I seen famine was still going pretty strong since ‘Heal The World’ came out. It’s just a song. No different from Thatcher era punk. Anyone ever heard “Maggie you’re a cunt”..?
What’s important is that we ENROL TO VOTE so that we have a chance to select someone to represent us who understands the concept of empathy.
I’m fed up with this dude. But if you want to vote for him, that’s your choice. Personally, I’m voting Greens but you can vote for whoever you like. You can choose between a whole bunch of different people who represent a whole bunch of different ideologies. That’s the beauty of the political system in NZ.
Please respect my right to express my disappointment for the leader of our country.*
Read more: http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/8630/Listen-Peace—Kill-The-PM.utr#ixzz3BSbNh9A2
Thats a well written statement. Clarifies the violent intent (none) and expands on the message.
I get what you’re saying adam re the boasting/ bragging and have heard it plenty of times in songs. Get’s a bit eye rolly though, as a woman hearing it. Thanks for sharing other tunes. I’ve made a mental note to have a listen when I get a chance.
Amazing what you can convince yourself of when you really, really want to
🙄
“If you declare a war on the poor this is what you should expect to receive.”
If I poke you in the eye repeatedly for 6 years then yeah I will expect you to turn around and say something nasty to me
[deleted]
[lprent: Too far. Read the policy again. ]
?
Why too far? It was just a metaphor for what I think Laila Harre’s policies will do to my small business.
Will you also delete any links on this site to the song? Or can I put a link here to the comment I have made hosted elsewhere?
I run a small business and none of the IMP policies worry me at all. I’m more worried about the mismanagement by national and the old boys clubs with infest national, and some could say labour.
This is not capitalism, in capitalism you got to take the hits and gains. The highs and the lows. This is profit taking and a mad rush to get the last of the resources.
Ditto. I don’t know why any small business owner would ever vote for National and that includes any family farmers that may be left.
Yep. It seems the Left have a bit of impression management and communication to the small business sector catch up with. Policies which make the life of small business owners simpler and give our customers more disposable income is all good for SMEs.
Because more then likely the Greens would come in as well and the Greens are wanting to implement more costs over water rights so why would farmers vote for more costs?
Why would we vote to subsidise the costs that the farmers incur?
Not the question asked
PR you bugger all/never answer questions – so it’s a bit rich for you to say that.
I don’t think it’s really helpful to label all farmers along those lines.
PR
Current debt
86,024,914,094
Current Interest bill (@2%)
1,720,497,995
Because they keep going on about user pays and personal responsibility.
Unless you’re accusing them of being hypocrites that is.
The Greens need to be listened to along with everyone else. They after all represent a larger % of the electorate than National do.
Interesting From NBR
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/assange-help-dotcom-drop-his-sept-15-bombshell-key-ck-161400
Kim Dotcom has told OneNews the big international name who will play a role in the bombshell he’ll drop on the prime minister: WikiLeaks founder and fugitive Julian Assange, who’s holed up in Ecuador’s London embassy, is set to take part in a pre-election attack on John Key.
“I can give you a hint. Someone who is currently locked up in an embassy might be on a live video link,” Mr Dotcom said.
Mr Dotcom had warned something big will come out on September 15, just five days from the election.
He has already hired journalist Glen Greenwald, who made public the Edward Snowdon leaks. Now the addition of Mr Assange confirms the September 15 event will be about New Zealand’s spying.
Asked will September 15 do more damage to Mr Key than the Dirty Politics book has, Mr Dotcom told OneNews: “I think so.”
Nice post dv. Well this and Dirty Politics (see my post above) should see Key spending much more time at his Hawaii mansion in the near future.
I’d prefer if we organised his accommodation.
And perhaps a direct message will be read out from Edward Snowden?
lol, at Her Majesty’s pleasure
KDC said that thing during the IMP launch about how he didn’t like the German PM so hacked his credit rating to zero, and there is another PM he doesn’t like. Makes me uncomfortable, when he talks about what he wants and likes etc, instead of talking about the general good. Still too much ego and I’m just glad he’s not gunning for someone on the left (this could just as easily be about a Labour govt as a NACT one).
While I understand how KDC’s actions fall outside of healthy political action – it’s also why IMP is the dark horse in this election.
Increasingly young people are no longer interested in conventionally sanctioned political actions. They increasingly see the entire system as compromised at best – irredeemably corrupted at worst.
For them this kind of direct action, redolent of the “V” and “Anonymous” memes, holds far more appeal.
Agreed, IMP are effective in what they do. I think I will just keep expressing my discomfit about KDC himself, because as bad as things are now we still have many good things to lose.
Am also getting sick of the whole “we’re fucked” as youth slogan thing. We do have choices, and more choices this election than ever. I really wish people would get over the idea that voting is about getting what one wants. It’s not, it’s about moving us towards a better place, or even just a place where it’s easier to do the real work of effecting change. I’ve never been able to vote for a party that represents me well, but that hasn’t stopped me from seeing the value in voting. All power to IMP, I hope they do really well, but I still think that we should be encouraging people to vote because it’s a form of power irrespective of whether there is a cool party to vote for or not (and it’s not like back in the FPP dark ages when I would have had to be voting Labour at this point 😉
Yeah – and it’s worth keeping in mind that a lot of real change comes from radicals outside of the system who over time learn to work effectively within it.
On the other hand the “we’re fucked” thing will need to find a legitimate political outlet sooner or later. Preferably sooner – and if KDC is the vehicle then so be it. No-one else seems to have put their hand up.
or alternatively, pressure from radicals and mass movements which choose to never compromise sufficiently to become part of the establishment – but who by doing so effectively force those within the establishment to take those radical viewpoints into account. A historical example of this was FDR’s New Deal. Without massive pressure from workers and socialist movements – including riots and dozens of strikers killed – FDR would never have passed the New Deal. As a conciliatory figure trying to protect the future of capitalism, he had to.
Update on TPPA meetings through the country … so vital to our survival.
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=2af728ed394d2e3c92f383cd5&id=9a51057c49&e=0663fc3518
Thanks. This deserves a post of its own asap to let many others know.
@LPrent please ? thx
Can include also the fact that TPPA is another attempt at resurrecting the MAI that was roundly rejected back in 1998. Laila Harre has pointed out to the role of online opposition in defeating the MAI and we can do it again [on video online that I viewed recently and I would be happy if someone can find it].
Worth referring to Bryan Gould’s piece in December last year which refers to the MAI-TPPA connection:
“Speak up – we can resist the powerful”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11167682
And this from:
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/33828/resisting-multilateralism
“Part of a protest march moves through Wellington in 1998, on its way to Parliament. The Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) was proposed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), of which New Zealand is a member. The MAI was intended to provide a framework for international investment based on highly liberalised national investment controls and improved investment protection, with effective dispute settlement procedures, open to non-OECD countries. The proposal provoked vehement opposition internationally. Those opposed argued the MAI favoured big business and was being imposed without adequate consultation. In the end, the initiative collapsed.”
Thanks Kiwiri for bringing those links forward.
EiE @19.1.1. Don’t like the song. Not the way to go.
On another note did anyone see, has anyone noticed David Fisher, about his relationship with Slater. Don’t have the link at hand. I wonder how many more we are going to see like this coming out of the word work.
You don’t have to like it. It is mildly distasteful. However it a direct consequence of Key’s war on the poor.
Key and DPF can’t behave like they do and then cry when these things happen.
In what world is a song about killing somebody “mildly distasteful”? It is completely disgusting and shouldn’t be defended.
It’s just a song. It won’t appeal to middle NZ sensibilities. And it’s not helpful for unpoisoning our politics. But Neoliberal policies are actually killing tens of thousands in NZ before their due time and we all accept that.
No, it isn’t mildly distasteful. It is way, way worse than that and sentiments encouraging rape and violence should not be considered justifiable by anybody professing to be left wing. I loathe John Key and fear for the future of NZ if he gets reelected. This song is more likely to get him sympathy at a time that those who thought he was great are beginning to ask questions. Really dumb.
“…sentiments encouraging rape…”
Care to point that out please?
I inwardly groan when I see a leftie express the anger in terms of violence or killing political opponents (in a country like NZ that isn’t a war zone). I don’t think it’a helpful to the left at all.
Probably not helpful at all.
But as far as I know @peace aren’t speaking for “the left” as as artists have no responsibility to do so.
Fair enough. Whoever does it, not something I support.
I’m for the means of political protest and the underlying values expressed are important.
As I see it, stuff like this just shows the depth of antipathy that exists among young people toward Key in particular and this govt in general.
None of this sentiment is ever picked up in the polls, and the political commentariat seem to have missed it, but it exists and it is building.
It’s because they either don’t want it to turn up in the polls – or they hoping they bury their heads long enough it will go away.
But just stop and talk to the young people, they are pissed off. They see what’s happening, they are not stupid. I talk to young mum’s and dads on a regular basis – they feel the future is going to be absolute hell for their kids. – I think they are right.
Funny how pollsters don’t ask that question.
I agree it shows the depth of anger. But I worry about what will replace it when the anger is expressed in the language of violence.
Not keen on bringing Key’s daughter into it either.
I’m glad to hear there are a lot of young people angry with the government and state of our society.
“I worry about what will replace it when the anger is expressed in the language of violence.”
Yeah it’s a worry alright. But it’s also entirely predictable considering the violence this govt and those they represent have inflicted on large segments of the populace.
This is a really important conversation. We’ve seen a generation of young people alienated from the political process – and that is never a stable condition.
Sooner or later something or someone will trigger that instability – and this small country may see consequences from our deepest nightmares.
It’s why the left must keep campaigning hard to get these people back voting.
Oh poor key and sophie
Key himself draws his kids into it. I’ll try and hunt it out but there’s the time Key had been bailed up about some shares – tranzrail? – and he quipped ‘ I even offered them to Max and he didn’t want them..’
Here it is
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/key-admits-sloppy-share-management-3367436
The article linked on karol’s post perhaps anker? It’s an excellent article. Shines a light on a topic, their relationship with sources, that no other journalists, most likely for a myriad of reasons, have not been able or will not to raise.
Rod Oram on Radionz on housing policies at moment, National first then Labour. Good as usual.
Says that a big change will be needed from the trend to build expensive homes as being more profitable. He talks about the building sector needing to have sort of templates to design and build cheaper homes. If we had an active government, there would be model houses designed for country-wide use, for cost and materials and practicality designed by people using their specialist knowledge for the benefit of NZs. A Buildings department would be a good idea. I think we have something of that nature that is prevented from being the needed guide by some ill-advised ideology.
EiE @ 22.1 Yep that is true. I don’t have to like it. I understand why its happening. When your suppress people and their voice it breaks through and it is not pretty as it would have been if you let them have a say in the first place.
as rare as hens’ teeth .. apology from Plunket to Gower ? must have been a very big mess ….
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10424397/Plunket-apologises-over-Gower-ambush
The state of NZ’s broadcasters: when those reporting the news are making news.
As ratshit ridiculous and plainly unprofessional as Gower can be in the visual medium Plunket comes across as the overbearing, hectoring bully in the talkback context. One for Gower here. Neither however approach the master of the universe chappie coining himself “Well Oi’ll Bee Fooked”.
I’m loving all the moralising over this song in the comments.
By the way anger young men. Hip-hop and violent.
So for the squeamish – avoid.
http://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/8630/Listen-Peace—Kill-The-PM.utr
Indeed. See the discussion going on above, starting at #19
The scum involved in #dirtypolitics were/are only a phone call removed from sinister shit like this.
The National Security Agency is secretly providing data to nearly two dozen U.S. government agencies with a “Google-like” search engine built to share more than 850 billion records about phone calls, emails, cellphone locations, and internet chats, according to classified documents obtained by The Intercept.
The documents provide the first definitive evidence that the NSA has for years made massive amounts of surveillance data directly accessible to domestic law enforcement agencies. Planning documents for ICREACH, as the search engine is called, cite the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration as key participants.
ICREACH contains information on the private communications of foreigners and, it appears, millions of records on American citizens who have not been accused of any wrongdoing. Details about its existence are contained in the archive of materials provided to The Intercept by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/article/2014/08/25/icreach-nsa-cia-secret-google-crisscross-proton/
An even better one linked from there;
http://www.popehat.com/2013/12/23/burn-the-fucking-system-to-the-ground/
So the hacker explains today that when the motivation is understood, and it’s not political, it will point directly and specifically to the hacker.
maybe there are several out there with reason to do it … just as an example … from 2012 ..
http://laudafinem.com/tag/debbie-brown/
Be warned .. it has a very large and unflattering image of Slater ….
Toujours, cherchez la femme !
lol!
and this published online, dated today … lots in there I don’t personally understand, but the machinations seem deep and acidly corrosive. Have we just been been surfing on a cesspit this whole time ? Eeew.
http://laudafinem.com/category/lauda-finem-investigates/
Your warning shouldn’t be about the photo of Slater, yeshe, but about the misogyny and racism of the person who wrote the article. Pathetic stuff.
agree 100% . the whole thing is abhorrent.
That laudafinem blog has a very sleazy style. That article is very distasteful.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/10424702/Man-admits-defacing-National-Party-billboards?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
nothing in that article about him being a green member.
Has the SIS been conveniently declassifying files about government opponents again?
Nope I utilised my mad hacking skillz and got access from a source that must remain confidental
– http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/08/green_party_activist_guilty_of_defacing_national_billboards.html
ah, more traditional right-wing stalkerising.
Tell me, did farrar base the alleged green-connection on stolen membership records, or simply because the guy turned up to a protest?
I think he based it more on what the guy put on his own facebook page however I concede it may have been put there by a vengeful SIS in an effort to make the drop kick look bad
yes, because whenever I see someone in the court news I need to see what posts on their facebook page can be twisted for my purposes 🙄 #rightwingstalkers
protip: not everyone who says “fuck john key” is a “green party activist”.
Hey PR, was it you who – a week or so before #hagerbook – was here bragging that the dirty tricks crew have one story/smear to release every day until the election?
How’s that working out?
lol
i just sat in ak library and speed-read ‘dirty politics’..
.whoar..!
..it’s even worse than you think it’s gonna be..
..and farrar giving himself groin-stretch trying to step away from the mess..?
..and furiously washing his hands at the same time..?
..utter bullshit..!
..his little head is bobbing away in there..alongside slater/lusk/ede/hooton/bhatnagar..
..david ‘dirty politics’ farrar..
EiE
I guess you support the “Roast Busters” then?
You dickhead.
Wow
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/20147237/failed-national-candidate-wants-rogue-elements-kicked-out
This shit has got to end. So many questions like that from Brent Robinson going unanswered. He quite categorically states that Mitchell told him he had hired Lusk and Slater to do the dirty work. Now Mitchell is denying ever having spoken to Robinson about it.
This guy Mitchell is an ex mercenary, the worst type of hired thug you can get. What do the good people of Rodney think? More needs to be made of this story including some effing journos door-stepping Mitchell.
xox
Present at Oxfam Climate Change Debate in Wellington. VUW. Rutherford house. Greens present,Labour present, NZFirst present. National absent. The worlds under serious threat. National , no show. Incredible.
Hack Attack! Anonymous strikes at Israeli govt over Gaza
http://rt.com/news/182520-anonymous-attack-israeli-government/
David Farrar cries that he can’t understand why the hate shown towards people like him in this election.
John Key cries the same.
They are as ignorant as the policies and attitudes of theirs which cause the hate. So fucking ignorant.
Funny eh? Seems that the narrow constraints of polite political discourse conducted by a handful of utterly conflicted and well-heeled insiders has somehow completely misread the depth of the disgust and contempt this govt inspires in many, many people.
It’s been there for a while, I think people feel they can express it now.
Yep.
John Key failed to distance himself from Slater even when he was on the West Coast and face to face with the mother of the young man over whose death Slater danced for joy and talked with Key about. Key had nothing to say to her and Key stood with Slater. Says it all.
Key is nothing but scum.
Slater can go to hell.
I don’t believe in hell, but even if I were as amoral and insecure as slater, I’d still want to hedge my bets a bit more than he has 🙂
Interesting that Labour’s David Parker (at the debate in Queenstown tonight) argues against ‘low value’ immigration on the basis the modern economy has a diminishing need for labour, yet he is intent on pushing the age of Super out, increasing the labour pool.
That just goes to show that he’s an unreconstructed Rogernome at heart. If the left lose this time, I think he will be at least as responsible as any individual.
Ergo compulsory Kiwisaver will allow people to retire at 65 still ,!
Weka. Use caliber to manage your books. It’s pretty much an iTunes equivalent for ebooks. Apparently there are addins for it that you can find on the interweb that automatically perform various tasks. Depending on the task u want to automate, just Google for it.
do you mean Calibre? I already use that, but it can’t read the Kindle version of Dirty Politics. Once imported into Calibre, it will prompt Kindle to open and show the book there instead. Like I said, I tried various ripping options and none of them could get past the DRM, so I’m curious how you think it can be ripped easily within a few minutes.
Edit: ah ok, I see what you mean. There is a Kindleunpackit addon that creates a new file that can be read in Calibre and presumably ripped to PDF etc. cheers.
Weka. Don’t over complicate things. Just Google caliber drm.